Mr Finbar Lennon, medical advisor to the North Eastern Health Board senior management has today offered his resignation.
In a letter to the board Mr Lennon said that the report of the external review into the circumstances surrounding the death of premature baby girl, Bronagh Livingstone is highly critical of the NEHB.
He stated that as medical advisor he has a very significant responsibility for ensuring that the delivery of care in the acute hospitals is safe.
Mr Lennon said he fully accepted the outcome of the review. He had sent a formal report to the chief executive of the NEHB Mr Paul Robinson on the Livingstone case for examination by the external review group. He said "in the circumstances it is appropriate that I step down as Medical Advisor and I now offer my resignation."
In a response Mr Robinson stated he did not wish to accept Mr Lennon's offer to resign, and requested that he continue as Medical Advisor.
Mr Robinson stated that he fully appreciated Mr. Lennon's position and the factors which had prompted him to offer his resignation.
Mr Robinson went on to say that he had always found Mr. Lennon's advice to be relevant, timely, evidence based and objective. He said "his advice has been of immense value to me in dealing with the difficult and complex issues relating to the acute hospital service in the North East."