Internal documents reveal patient safety concerns of staff at Cavan Hospital

Internal documents at Cavan General Hospital have revealed increasing fears over patient safety among the maternity unit's senior consultants, dating back a number of years.

The warnings, seen by the Sunday Independent newspaper, come as the deaths of four babies at the hospital prompted an investigation.

Two others baby deaths were reviewed internally and there have also been at least four other "near death" incidents which the hospital did not believe required further investigation.

A medical review is underway, but Health Minister Leo Varadkar has insisted there is no need for the Health Information and Quality Authority to investigate the maternity unit at Cavan.