Fate of five newborns deprived of oxygen ‘unclear’

Whether the babies deprived of oxygen during delivery at Portiuncula Hospital will suffer long-term effects is unclear — but despite the uncertainty around the five cases, the health minister has reassured women that maternity services are safe.

Consultant cardiologist Pat Nash, who is also clinical director of the Saolta Hospital Group which includes Portiuncula, said because the five babies are all very young “we still don’t know the long-term outcome and it’s too early to determine that at the moment”.

Two babies died and five more had evidence of oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) at Portiuncula during delivery between February and November of last year.