Death in birth: No HSE report a year on

THE HSE has yet to complete an internal inquiry more than a year after the death of a garda sergeant and her baby son hours after she gave birth to twins.

Tania Corcoran, aged 34, died on March 9 last year after her twin boys were born by caesarean section at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. One of the babies, Zach, also died.

The HSE said yesterday the review is “still ongoing” and is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.

“It is a complex report and deserves the time it has been given,” said a spokesperson.

The scope of the review covers the period between Ms Corcoran’s first antenatal specialist consultation on November 24, 2006, and her death in March of last year.

She was stationed at Santry in north Dublin and her husband, Aidan McCabe, is a detective sergeant. She was on temporary transfer to Ballymun station from Santry.

She was six months pregnant with twins at the time of her admission to hospital in Drogheda some days before the boys’ birth.

Hers was the first recorded death in childbirth since 2004 in this country. Between 1990 and 2004 the average was fewer than two deaths per year, with 27 deaths per 100,000 births during that time.

Originally from Mayo, Ms Corcoran had just passed her 13-year anniversary as a member of the Garda Síochána.

The team reviewing the circumstances surrounding her death is chaired by consultant obstetrician Dr Seosamh Ó Coigligh and includes consultant anaesthetist Dr Rory Page, HSE North East risk adviser Gerry Clerkin and Coombe Hospital director of midwifery and nursing Patricia Hughes.

Their remit was to focus on Ms Corcoran’s clinical management and, according to the HSE spokesperson, “to what extent non-clinical factors may have influenced” her care.

They are also examining protocols and procedures relevant to the incident and will be making recommendations to the HSE North East hospital network manager.

The spokesperson said the HSE had been in contact with Mr McCabe to keep him updated on progress with the review.

It is believed Ms Corcoran developed a severe blood infection and failed to respond to antibiotics.

The death of the officer and her son caused widespread upset among gardaí.