Minister: Hospitals must have emergency maternity protocols

Action must be taken to ensure there is no repeat of a situation in which a baby girl died after her mother was refused treatment at a hospital, Minister for Health Micheál Martin said today.

Hospitals should have protocols to deal with emergencies such as that involving baby Bronagh Livingstone last week, Minister Martin said.

The baby’s mother Denise Livingstone, 32, arrived at Monaghan General Hospital last Wednesday in an advanced state of labour but was transferred on the grounds that the hospital does not have a maternity unit.

Baby Bronagh, who was born three months premature in an ambulance during the 25-mile journey to Cavan, died in hospital shortly afterwards.

Mr Martin said he hoped that once he had seen a report into the incident, he would be able to ensure there was no repeat.

“I would hope after we have received a report tomorrow we would be in a position to put in train steps to make sure that is the case,” he said.

“Many hospitals around the country don’t have the full range of services. Nonetheless, they should be in a position to have protocols to deal with emergency situations in areas of advanced pregnancies or in other areas of medical emergencies.”

He said hospitals should be in a position to respond and deal with such cases.

The baby’s death has resulted in widespread anger at the lack of maternity facilities at Monaghan General Hospital, where the special unit was closed down on grounds of safety.

A report from the North Eastern Health Board (NEHB) into the Livingstone case delivered its findings earlier this week, and these were passed on to an independent inquiry team.

Tomorrow Mr Martin’s department is expected to receive a report by the three-person inquiry on the NEHB findings.

A copy of the report will also be passed on to the Livingstone family, a health department spokesman said.