Suspended midwife ‘pleased’ to be allowed resume practice

The HSE has reinstated the indemnity insurance for home-birth midwife Philomena Canning, opening the way for her to resume her practice.

Ms Canning’s insurance was suspended last August following a decision within the HSE that two births she had delivered required investigation, despite no adverse consequences for anybody involved.

An investigation was launched in September and Ms Canning was unsuccessful in seeking a High Court injunction to stop her suspension. Her reinstatement comes two days before an appeal to the Supreme Court was to be held, and following the receipt by the HSE of two independent reports which are understood to be favourable to her case.