Staff involved in care of Savita face disciplinary review

Staff responsible for the care of Savita Halappanavar at the hospital where she died are to face disciplinary proceedings.

Up to 30 doctors and nurses who tended to the expectant mother during her miscarriage and death at University Hospital Galway are to have their work reviewed and where questions arise, will have to explain their actions and decisions.

Bill Maher, chief executive of the West-North West Hospitals Group said the investigations would be carried out by hospital management and sanctions including retraining, mentoring, suspension and dismissal would be applied if necessary.

“We will take all appropriate action in light of these proceedings. I believe that in many instances there will be no case to answer. As part of the disciplinary process, if we believe it appropriate, we will refer individuals to the Irish Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Board.”

Mrs Halappanavar, 31, who was 17 weeks pregnant, died on Oct 28 last year after developing septicaemia while she was in hospital suffering a miscarriage.

Subsequent investigations by the Health Service Executive and the Health Information and Quality Authority, and a coroner’s inquest, all found failings in how her condition was monitored and in communications between medical staff but so far no one has been held responsible for her death.

A special board meeting of the West-North West Hospitals Group, which includes UHG and six other hospitals, was held on Thursday night to consider the findings of the three inquiries.

Mr Maher said yesterday: “We are determined that we will learn from these three investigations and that we will take all action necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of all pregnant women and all other patients.

“To help restore public confidence, in addition to the disciplinary process described above, I am going to refer the inquest transcripts and findings, and the HSE and HIQA reports, to both the Irish Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Board.”

Mr Maher said the hospital had already put in place safeguards against such a tragedy happening again, including the education of all staff in the recognition, monitoring and management of sepsis. He said the board had asked for an external review of procedures after 12 months.

He said many recommendations made by HIQA and the HSE have “resource implications”: “The board has asked that we quantify these and advance discussions with the HSE and the Department of Health to ensure they can be implemented without delay.”

Mrs Halappanavar’s widower, Praveen, has begun a High Court action against the HSE and a UHG doctor, claiming negligence in his wife’s care. He was unhappy yesterday that the review of staff involvement at the hospital would be conducted by management.