Leo Varadkar to meet parents whose babies died at hospital

Parents whose babies died at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise are due to meet Minister for Health Leo Varadkar when he visits the hospital on Tuesday.

Mr Varadkar is expected to brief the families on the measures taken to improve standards in the hospital and the maternity sector nationally and what further measures are planned.

A spokesman said the meeting will be private and will take place in fulfilment of a commitment to a follow-up meeting the Minister gave when he met the parents last year.

He said Mr Varadkar was anxious to get a progress report from the families on how their individual cases were being handled by the HSE.

The meeting will also be attended by chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan and Dr Susan O'Reilly, chief executive officer of Dublin Midland Hospital Group.

A number of investigations are continuing in relation to disciplinary and management issues arising from the treatment of the families in the maternity unit of the hospital.