Health watchdog to investigate deaths of six babies at hospital maternity unit

The health watchdog, Hiqa, is to carry out an investigation into the circumstances surrounding maternity care and the deaths of six babies in Portlaoise Hospital.

Health Minister James Reilly said the families involved will get “all the answers” they need from the inquiry, which will focus on the issues they want to be investigated.

Dr Reilly said he found last week’s episode of Prime Time on RTÉ One, which examined the deaths of four babies over six years at the hospital’s maternity unit, to be “quite disturbing”.