Mothers-to-be ‘should not go to Monaghan hospital’

THE North Eastern Health Board has said expectant mothers should not go to Monaghan General Hospital in an emergency relating to their pregnancy.

Women presenting at the hospital in an emergency will be assessed and given ambulance transport to Cavan or Drogheda, but the advice issued for dealing with a sudden medical difficulty is to go directly to the maternity unit in either of the two specialist hospitals.

The board’s blunt message came as the family of baby Bronagh Livingstone prepared for a meeting with Health Minister Micheál Martin to ask why her mother had to give birth to her prematurely in an ambulance after being refused admission to Monaghan General.