Midland Regional Hospital staff’s behaviour ‘well short’ of reasonable standard

Staff behaviour at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise fell well short of what would be reasonable from a patient safety point of view, according to the Department of Health’s chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin yesterday, Dr Holohan said he was recommending that the Health Information and Quality Authority quickly review the culture of the entire hospital.

He said the treatment of the babies who died, and of the families, fell well short of an appropriate standard that would be exhibited in any other maternity service. “It is something that gives us a lot of concern,” said Dr Holohan, who did not think this could be explained by staffing levels.