Maternity wards not using early warning system

A national early warning system designed to trigger an early response to deteriorating patients has yet to be applied to maternity care, it emerged yesterday.

Around 80% of the country’s acute hospitals have begun implementing the system, including University Hospital Galway, where Savita Halappanavar died in October.

Ms Halappanavar was 17 weeks pregnant and was miscarrying when she was admitted to UCG’s maternity unit. A report on how staff at the hospital responded to her deteriorating condition is imminent.