Doctor told pregnant woman dead baby was fine

A pregnant woman found out her baby was dead the day after a doctor told her the baby was fine and she could leave hospital.

Chuck Ugesu yesterday admitted he failed to recognise significant issues on a scan trace.

He told the inquest in Limerick into stillborn baby Mary Kate Kelly’s death that he should have insisted that the mother, Amy Delahunt, remain at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, and be admitted. Ms Delahunt was scanned in Limerick the following day, when it was discovered her baby had died.

At the inquest, Dr Ugesu also admitted he may have suggested at one point that Ms Delahunt left the Portlaoise hospital against his advice but said, upon reviewing charts, that that was not the case.

Consultant gynaecologist obstetrician at the hospital, Miriam Doyle, said she was on duty and available on the day Ms Delahunt came to the hospital but was not asked to see her. She said she would have recommended the teacher be admitted, given what was now known.

Ms Delahunt, of Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary, said she and partner Oliver Kelly had been led to believe that what happened in her case had never occurred before. She said she was shocked to learn through a Prime Time programme that four other babies had died at the hospital due to misinterpretation of scan traces.

Mr Kelly said they were both devastated watching Prime Time in January 2014 to learn that four other babies had died in Portlaoise Hospital prior to the death of their baby.