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.