Hiqa warning over safety of Irish maternity service

Ireland’s health watchdog has warned it cannot stand over claims the country’s maternity service is safe after Savita Halappanavar’s death.

The Health Information Quality Authority (Hiqa) took the stance after the publication of its extensive 257-page investigation into the tragedy and the wider system.

The report has again highlighted serious errors in how Ms Halappanavar, 31, was treated in Oct 2012, stating she failed to receive “even the most basic elements of patient care”.