A REPORT INTO the death of a baby boy at Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise has identified “significant failings” in his treatment.
The independent investigation into the death of Joshua Keyes Cornally, who died in the maternity unit of the hospital within an hour of his birth in October 2009, was published by the HSE today at the request of his parents, Shauna Keyes and Joseph Cornally.
The report highlights key failings related to the reading of cardiotocography (CTG) results, the absence of foetal blood sampling, the delay in Joshua’s delivery, and the care and support provided to his parents following his death.
It also makes 23 recommendations for maternity services at the hospital – all of which have now been implemented, according to the HSE – including increased staffing levels, compulsory CTG monitoring training and new guidelines to support bereaved families.
In a statement, the HSE said the report will “serve as a key driver for the development of improved services in all maternity units throughout Ireland”.
It apologised for the “distress and anguish” caused to the “many families have been affected by adverse outcomes in our maternity services over the past number of years” and acknowledged its “failure to respond in a timely and empathetic way to these issues”.
‘Limited respect’
Details of Joshua’s death were revealed in an RTÉ Prime Time special in January 2014.
His mother, Shauna, told the programme that hospital staff had given her different reasons for his death: including that his organs were too heavy, that he may have had Down syndrome, and that he had received a heavy blow during pregnancy.
Joshua was one of five babies who died in controversial circumstances at the hospital.
An official report into the deaths, published in February 2014, found that the families of patients were treated in a poor and at times “appalling manner, with limited respect, kindness, courtesy and consideration”.
The full report can be read here.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say