Minister for Health Mary Harney has said that recommendations arrived at in a HSE-commissioned report into the death of a over woman four years ago while she was undergoing IVF treatment will be fully implemented by the Executive.
Jacqueline Rushton (32), of Ardleigh Park, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, died at Dublin's Mater Hospital on January 14th, 2003, as a result of complications during IVF treatment.
Ms Rushton was transferred to the Mater Hospital nine days before Christmas in 2002 after it was found she was overreacting to treatment at the Rotunda's Human Assisted Reproduction Ireland (HARI) unit. The report found that appropriate actions "were not always taken" by the Rotunda and that there was "inconsistent compliance" with guidelines set by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Carried out by Professor Alison Murdoch of the Newcastle Fertility Centre and independent healthcare consultant Stuart Emslie, the report makes a number of recommendations including the review of protocols at units where IVF treatment is provided and "continuity of senior input at all times" when patients are transferred for clinical reasons to other healthcare facilities.
Ms Harney this afternoon extended her sympathies to the husband, parents and family of Ms Rushton. The minister agreed to the family's request for an independent review after meeting with Jacqueline's mother and sisters in October 2005.
Speaking today, Minister Harney said : "It was clear from my meeting with Jacqueline's mother and sisters that this family had suffered a huge loss. They had many unanswered questions and concerns relating to Jacqueline's treatment which needed to be clarified. I hope that this report published today provides those answers."
Commenting on the report earlier today, a statement issued by the Rotunda Hospital insisted Ms Rushton "was seen on a daily basis" by at least one experienced medical staff member.
The statement, issued by the Master of the Rotunda Hospital Dr Michael Geary acknowleged "lessons have been learned".
"In all medical treatments, one cannot always be guaranteed that the outcome will be positive and every effort is made along the way to comply with best practice in patient care and treatment," Dr Geary said.
"We sincerely hope, with the new insights and learnings available to us, that a similar incident can be prevented from occurring again in the future," he concluded.
Meanwhile, the HSE has confirmed the circulation of the report's recommendations to all relevant hospitals nationally and has said it will be engaging with each hospital to ensure their implementation.
Dr Mary Hynes, assistant director of the HSE's National Hospital's Office, said Mrs Rushton's "untimely death was a tragedy" for all those who knew her and were involved in her care.
"We welcome the findings of this report and are taking immediate steps to ensure that all recommendations are implemented in our hospitals," she said.
"There is always an onus on any healthcare provider to review their processes and systems and this report underlines again this requirement. It is very important for us to learn from this tragic event."