Seven maternal deaths in hospitals last year

Seven women died in Irish hospitals last year while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of a pregnancy, it has emerged.

The number of such reported deaths in 2015 remains unchanged from 2014 when the first national report gathering together data from all 19 maternity units was published.

However, the Irish Maternity Indicator System National Report 2015 warns that the figure is lower than other data sources indicate. Maternity units only record maternal deaths that occur in hospitals, not elsewhere.

The latest report says the number of maternal deaths in Ireland remains “relatively low” by international comparison. But the report cautions: “Thus, while lessons can be learnt from management of individual cases, maternal death in a single year is not a robust indicator to assess quality of care in a maternity unit.”

The report shows that last year there were 65,680 births to 64,435 mothers, compared to 67,263 births to 65,987 mothers in 2014. There were 1,225 multiple births last year, and 1,255 in 2014.

The number of caesarean sections increased slightly last year from 29.55 to 30.9% and some of the reasons given are litigation, increases in first births among older women and the rise in multiple births resulting from assisted reproduction.

Prof Michael Turner, lead of the national clinical programme in obstetrics and gynaecology, said senior managers in hospitals were using the Irish Maternity Indicator System on a monthly basis to monitor and manage their hospital activities.

“They have also taken measures to improve the quality of their data and data collection and reporting processes. Based on the improved data, measures have also been taken at maternity units to improve the quality of care delivered.”

The number of perinatal deaths (immediately before or after birth) has increased in the last two years from 407 to 429 but, again, the report warns that annual rates of perinatal deaths should be interpreted with caution.

Of the perinatal deaths last year, 87 were without a congenital anomaly at the time of birth, compared to 93 the previous year. The report notes that rates of perinatal deaths weighing 2.5kg or more without a congenital anomaly are usually considered a good indication of obstetric care.

There were 73 cases of maternal bacteraemia (the presence of bacteria in the blood) last year, compared to 76 in 2014. The immune response to the bacteria can cause sepsis and septic shock.

There were 780 women diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy last year, compared to 787 in 2014. An ectopic pregnancy is where the fetus develops outside the womb, typically in the fallopian tube.

There were 17 hysterectomies completed during the birth episode of care last year, compared to 24 in 2014.