The HSE has refused to disclose the outcome of a process set up to determine accountability regarding a number of avoidable baby deaths at Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.

A mother has spoken of how proud she is of her dead son — he has played a vital role in ensuring other babies did not die at birth.

Many parents whose babies died or suffered catastrophic injuries at birth in the maternity unit at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise are still waiting to have their cases resolved.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has denied Ireland’s maternity services are in crisis, despite revelations the system suffered 67 “extreme incidents” last year, resulting in babies dying or having long-term disabilities.

On the morning of January 24, 2012 Mark and Roisin Molloy’s son Mark passed away just moments after he was delivered at the Midland’s Regional Hospital.

Senior HSE staff in charge of patient safety were told yesterday to reflect very seriously on their “appalling” track record.

A consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology who was placed on administrative leave more than a year ago following the death of a newborn at Cavan General Hospital has still not returned to work.

The father of a newborn boy who died at Portlaoise Hospital three years ago has called on Health Minister Leo Varadkar to order a public inquiry into infant deaths at the hospital.

The HSE is under pressure to investigate the maternity services at Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise after an incident earlier this week.

Parents hope he will be seen as ‘catalyst for change’ in HSE

Roisín Molloy, whose son, Mark, died after being born at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise two years ago, says she is happy with the scope of the health watchdog’s investigation of the hospital’s maternity services.

An especially distressing finding of the report was that highlighted by Dr Tony Holohan where dead babies were transported in the boot of a taxi to Tullamore hospital for postmortem.

The families of four babies who died in one hospital in similar circumstances over several years suffered poor and appalling treatment by health chiefs.

The health watchdog, Hiqa, is to carry out an investigation into the circumstances surrounding maternity care and the deaths of six babies in Portlaoise Hospital.

The parents of a baby who died at Portlaoise hospital say nothing short of an inquiry by HIQA will satisfy them.

The parents of a baby boy who died 22 minutes after his birth at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise two years ago will today lobby TDs for an independent inquiry.

Patient Focus has welcomed Health Minister James Reilly’s remarks that he may ask health service watchdog Hiqa to review maternity services at Portlaoise Hospital.