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Peter Morrison/AP/Press Association Images

The hospital where Savita died is improving, although not quickly enough in some areas

Reviews of services have found that significant progress has been made at University Hospital Galway.

REPORTS LOOKING AT conditions in the hospital where Savita Halappanavar died in October 2012 have found that a number of changes have been implemented.

Other recommendations, which have not yet been put in place, were seen to be in the process of implementation.

Three investigations have been conducted into the introduction of recommendations by health authority HIQA. 

These have included an independent review by Ernst and Young, a HSE patient safety review and a review by medical expert Professor Arulkumaran.

These results were announced by the Saolta University Health Care Group at a public board meeting in Galway yesterday.

Ernst and Young 

The independent review of services at the hospital by consultants Ernst and Young on behalf of the Saolta Group was conducted to look into the implementation of HIQA’s 15 local recommendations at the hospital in Galway.

In the report it was found that five recommendations that related directly to “effective care” have all been either fully implemented or have an effective implementation plan in place.

The report also found that there was no residual action remaining to be taken and that the Saolta Group was committed to implementing recommendations included in the plan.  

Speaking about the changes, Saolta’s Group Chief Executive, said, “the nature of healthcare is that there is always risk to be managed and this requires constant vigiance and review. It is a continuous process that acknowledges that mistakes are part of service delivery, seeks to recognise these mistakes on a continuous basis and put measures in place to address them.”

We want to embed this continuous learning into the way we work every day.

Not yet implemented

While expressing general satisfaction, there are still concerns within the report about the timeframe that some changes are being implemented in.

For four of the recommendations, there were concerns about the ability of the service to meet them within the allotted timeframe.

These related to the implementation of an action plan of compliance with national standards within the hospital, the provision of key performance indiciators, a review of the hospitals clinical governance and the training of staff on “managing risk, adverse incidents, near misses, claims and complaints.”

Medical negligence

Praveeen Halappanavar, widower of the late Savita, is hopeful that his case for medical negligence will receive a hearing in spring of next year, as reported in The Irish Times this morning.

Gerry O’Donnell, solicitor for Halappanavar, said he was seeking an “early hearing” and that “the hospital has admitted liability and could endeavour to settle the case, or they could request that it be adjudicated by a judge”.

Read: ‘Never again’: New guidelines introduced after Savita’s tragic death

Also: ‘Tragic cases like Savita Halappanavar make us strive to ensure our health service is safe’

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12 Comments
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    Mute Anto O Rourke
    Favourite Anto O Rourke
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    Dec 5th 2014, 11:06 AM

    Well that’s fantastic news about its improvements… It only took someone to die to make it happen. Like the homeless situation, people literally have to die for good things to happen in this country. It’s sickening.

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    Mute ohaimhirghin
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    Dec 5th 2014, 2:12 PM

    It has always been that way and will continue to be. It’s just the reality of life, like it or not

    5
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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
    Favourite Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Dec 5th 2014, 10:14 AM

    The rest of the country has learned nothing it seems. A husband and kids have no wife and mother due to events in Sligo. Where next? Who next?

    Serious changes need to be nade on a national level before more women needlessly die.

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    Mute Lolo
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    Dec 5th 2014, 1:38 PM

    It says alot when research shows that it is actually SAFER to have a home birth in this country than a hospital birth where intervention is rife and patients get ignored.

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    Mute TheLoneHurler
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    Dec 5th 2014, 4:39 PM

    Would you be saying that if she had an abortion and still died after Ailbhe? Still trying to tie her death to the law despite the evidence showing otherwise.

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Dec 6th 2014, 10:05 AM

    Did I mention abortion hurler? I mentioned the woman in Sligi that died after childbirth. If you want a row, look elsewhere….or better yet, get a life!

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    Mute Anne Buckley
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    Dec 6th 2014, 10:50 PM

    Had my two babies in Mullingar where the care was excellent and myself and my babies were so well looked after during and following the births. I was very confident if things started to go wrong I was being looked after despite how short staffed they were. Dont think I was in the slightest bit ignored nor were the other women I shared with for the 3 days I was there. Just saying people also have very positive views of maternity wards and staff also.

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    Mute Matthew Donoghue
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    Dec 5th 2014, 10:12 AM

    Are saolta taking over from the HSE in the north east?

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Dec 5th 2014, 11:55 AM

    HIQA are being replaced by Saolta.

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    Mute TheLoneHurler
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    Dec 5th 2014, 4:42 PM

    Good to hear that things are improving… but the speed of change is too slow and still puts women at risk unnecessarily. The people who are responsible for implementing the changes should see their pay reduced until the changes are made in full.

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    Mute Patrick James Walsh
    Favourite Patrick James Walsh
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    Dec 5th 2014, 5:20 PM

    Everyone I know who has had surgery at this hospital has contacted a hospital infection subsequently.

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    Mute Rotarua
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    Dec 5th 2014, 10:58 PM

    Everyone I know who’s had surgery there didn’t contract any post op infection.

    12
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