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Newborn baby via Shutterstock

278 newborn babies' blood group identified incorrectly due to label error

It was also revealed that 30 mothers may have required anti-D but did not get it.

THE HSE HAS revealed that 220 new mothers may have been given anti-D following birth even though they may not have needed it, while 30 more mother may have required it but did not get it.

It was also revealed that 278 babies might have had their blood group reported incorrectly at the time of birth, while 12 more babies may have received red blood cells when they did not need it.

The mix-ups happened when blood group test kits by Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, a Johnson and Johnson company, were found to be incorrectly labelled.

The blunders happened at five hospitals – Cavan, the Rotunda, Sligo, Limerick and Galway.

As part of the response to this, each hospital has completed an inspection of the remaining kits in stock and has removed any potentially affected batches. They have also conducted a review of the results.

Mothers were contacted about the blunder errors on Monday.

The HSE said there were no immediate safety concerns, however, anyone affected can discuss the implications for them directly with their hospital.

Each hospital has in place a dedicated phone-line, which can be obtained by calling the HSE on 1850 24 1850.

Read: HSE expects deficit of over €100 million this year>

More: Breastfeeding and eating fish could make your children smarter>

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28 Comments
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    Mute Paul Doyle
    Favourite Paul Doyle
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    Aug 12th 2013, 8:19 PM

    Fair play to him, nice gesture

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    Mute Michael Mc Gauley
    Favourite Michael Mc Gauley
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    Aug 12th 2013, 8:28 PM

    Such a nice touch fair play to him. Even if his country’s justice system let everyone down.

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    Mute Graham McDonnell
    Favourite Graham McDonnell
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    Aug 12th 2013, 8:50 PM

    Such a nice thing for him to do. Nice to show she hasn’t been forgotten by the country she made her second home.

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    Mute Joan Featherstone
    Favourite Joan Featherstone
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    Aug 12th 2013, 8:39 PM

    I can’t believe this happened almost a year ago, poor Tom her husband…but what a wonderful wonderful gesture on behalf of the people of Melbourne!

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    Mute Ian James Conway
    Favourite Ian James Conway
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    Aug 12th 2013, 9:16 PM

    Still very sad to think about a year later.

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    Mute Eoin Darcy
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    Aug 12th 2013, 8:45 PM

    Very thoughtful gesture.

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    Mute Michelle Byrne Keane
    Favourite Michelle Byrne Keane
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    Aug 12th 2013, 9:46 PM

    Please don’t call the girl by her surname! Her name is Jill.

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    Mute Jamie O'Connor
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    Aug 12th 2013, 10:07 PM

    Agree Michelle..’Meagher ‘had been living in Moreland’ is inapropriate, her name was Jill.

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    Mute Hill 16
    Favourite Hill 16
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    Aug 13th 2013, 5:59 AM

    A murder that should of never happened if the idiots on the board had done their job properly

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