Maternal deaths research to boost mother and baby care

RESEARCH, designed to improve the health of mothers and babies by learning lessons from maternal deaths, is to be undertaken in Ireland as part of a study under way in Britain and the North.

Health Minister Mary Harney last night launched a Confidential Enquiry into Maternal & Child Health (CEMACH) which will allow standardised reviews of maternal deaths in Ireland.

The new initiative from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland and the Health Service Executive aims to improve the health of mothers and babies by carrying out confidential enquiries and by disseminating its findings and recommendations to all maternity hospitals.