‘Significant’ progress since Savita case, HSE says

The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) say significant progress has been made in improving maternity services nationally since the death of Savita Halappanavar.

Their comments follow publication of a consultant report which found “reasonable compliance” by University Hospital Galway with the locally applicable recommendations made following her death. Ms Halappanavar died in the hospital over two years ago after being admitted when she was pregnant and miscarrying.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, while noting the progress made, said he would like to see greater focus on implementing the remaining recommendations as soon as possible

The HSE said extra obstetricians and midwives would be appointed to beef up the maternity service next year.

The HSE said a national implementation group has made significant progress over the past year in implementing the recommendations of two reports in the death.

It highlighted the introduction of new guidelines on sepsis management, clinical handover, miscarriage and the treatment of critically ill women in pregnancy. New national early warning score system for patients had been introduced, more training was being provided and counselling and bereavement services improved.

“It is essential that where there are system failures that the HSE seeks to address these deficits in a systematic and consistent manner so that such incidents do not recur in the future. The development of national guidelines by the clinical care programmes, supported by routine measurement and robust oversight is essential in ensuring that the lessons from such tragic incidents are taken on board by hospitals,” Dr Tony O’Connell, national director for acute hospitals said.

Financial constraints had resulted in “staffing and infrastructural challenges” in a number of hospitals over the past five years, he said. While these were not central issues in the Halappanavar case, it was essential they were addressed.

“In this context, the HSE is prioritising maternity services and a substantial allocation of is being made for this purpose. A priority within the 2015 Service Plan is to reduce the reliance on agency staff and a number of measures have been identified to address this issue.”

The Department said it and the HSE were developing a new maternity strategy to enforce best international practice in all facilities. A new code of conduct for health service employers would be finalised early next year and three new sets of clinical guidelines had been introduced.

It added: “The Minister notes the progress made to date but would like to see a greater focus to implement the remaining recommendations as soon as possible.”