Investigations into baby deaths at Cavan hospital under way

Two investigations are under way in relation to the deaths of babies in Cavan General Hospital over the past week.

The RCSI Hospitals Group confirmed the investigations have begun but said it was not policy to comment on individual cases.

Three babies have died at the hospital in recent days but one of these is believed to have been a late miscarriage, according to local sources.

In one incident, a baby died early on Sunday morning after issues arose during the mother’s labour and an emergency Caesarean section was called for.

The investigation is likely to focus on the amount of time that passed before contact was made with the consultant obstetrician on call.

A non-consultant hospital doctor was present but this grade is not allowed to carry out an emergency section without consultant cover being on site.

The baby’s condition deteriorated before the Caesarean section was carried out and the baby died before delivery.

Died unexpectedly

In an earlier incident, a baby died unexpectedly less than a day after being born. The cause of death is also being investigated.

The third case involved the death of a baby at the cusp of viability and would normally be classified as a late miscarriage.

The death of a newborn is classified within the health services as a serious reportable event that normally needs to be investigated in order to determine whether it was preventable or whether safety lessons could be learned. Not all such events are preventable and deaths may occur for unforeseen but natural causes.

Local Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said staff were “greatly upset and very emotional” over what has been “a very difficult week” for the hospital. He expressed his sympathy to the bereaved families involved and to the hospital staff.

The hospital, one of the smallest maternity units in the State, has been the subject of at least four investigations into deaths in recent years.

The unit is staffed by four consultant obstetricians, one of whom has been on administrative leave for more than 18 months.

This person has been replaced by a locum consultant.