HSE chief Tony O’Brien has refused to be drawn on whether people would be held to account following the publication of the report on child deaths in the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

The mother of one of the babies who died at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise is glad the dead children will never be forgotten because of the role they played in helping to improve services.

The hospital at the centre of the centre of a damning investigation into avoidable deaths of newborn babies may see its services cut or significantly downgraded in light of the life-threatening care standards revelations.

At times like this, when a media storm threatens to engulf a story, it is vital to seek out expert opinion to get a sober, reasoned analysis of the true extent of the problem.

An independent patient advocacy group must be set up within a year to ensure that report recommendations are implemented because the HSE can no longer be trusted to introduce the reforms.