Team to review care of newborns at hospital unveiled

The make-up of a review team to examine at least 12 cases of questionable care of newborns at Portiuncula Hospital which left some babies dead and others brain damaged has been announced.

Chaired by James Walker, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at University of Leeds, the team also includes Rachel Conaty, assistant director of midwifery and nursing at Holles St; former head of perinatel medicine at the Coombe Hospital, Sean Daly; Eugene Dempsey, consultant neonatologist at Cork University Maternity Hospital; Adrienne Foran, consultant neonatologist, Rotunda Hospital; Paul Hughes, obstetrician and gynaecologist, Kerry; Breda Shiel Kerans, service user representative, Maternity Services Steering Group; Elaine Madden, head of midwifery and gynaecology at the South Eastern Trust (Belfast); and Cora McCaughan, HSE head of national incident management and learning team.

As well as reviewing at least 12 “adverse perinatal events” at the hospital between 2008 and last November, the team will also carry out a full review of maternity care.