Martin under fire in Monaghan maternity case

There is increasing pressure on the Minister for Health, Micheál Martin to re-open the maternity unit in Monaghan General Hospital.

The call comes following the death of Bronagh Livingston, who was born premature after her mother was turned away from the hospital.

An obstetrician at the hospital has today claimed in an interview with the Sunday Independent that he could have delivered the baby.

Denise Livingstone believes that if the presence of an obstetrician had allowed her to be admitted to Monaghan hospital, there was a good chance her child would have survived.

Today's Sunday Independent report says a letter sent by the Minister to the Health Board in February of last year said it was unsafe to continue providing maternity services at Monaghan with only one obstetrician.

In his letter, Mr Martin also said the problem with the unit was a matter of safety and not one of cost, saying he felt its existing funding was sufficient.

As a result, no agreement was reached between the health board and the Minister on how to fund the additional consultants necessary to keep the unit going.