Minister to receive report on cuts and prevention of deaths

A REPORT looking at ways to prevent the deaths of people denied access to healthcare services because of cuts in local hospitals is expected to be on the Health Minister’s desk in days.

The Bonner Report was due to be completed a number of months ago. It was commissioned by Health Minister Micheál Martin shortly after the death of the baby Bronagh Livingstone, who died after her 32-year-old mother Denise went into premature labour last December 11 and was refused treatment at Monaghan Hospital because maternity services had been suspended there.

She was instead driven the 25-mile journey to Cavan General Hospital by ambulance and gave birth en route to Bronagh, who weighed less than 2lbs. Bronagh died shortly after she arrived at the hospital.