External review underway into delivery of nine babies at Galway hospital

The management team will be fully responsible for managing and supporting all aspects of maternity, gynaecology, and neonatal services, File Picture: Denis Minihane.

The HSE has confirmed that external reviews are currently underway into the delivery of nine babies at Portiuncula University Hospital (PUH) in Galway.

The authority has also appointed a "highly experienced management team" to oversee and manage maternity services at the hospital over the coming months.

The management team will be led by external consultant obstetrician, Mark Skehan, and will also include a director of midwifery and a senior manager.

The team began work on site at the hospital on Monday. While there, they will be fully responsible for managing and supporting all aspects of maternity, gynaecology, and neonatal services.

They will report directly to the HSE West and North West regional management.

Commenting on the announcement, the regional clinical director at HSE West and North West, Dr Pat Nash, said: “I want to firstly apologise to all those women and families for whom this news will be worrying or upsetting. 

"We are making these changes now to ensure that the maternity service at Portiuncula is as safe as possible for mothers and their babies.

'Neonatal cooling'

“External reviews are currently underway into the delivery of nine babies in PUH. Since 2024, seven babies had hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), resulting in six of those babies being referred for neonatal hypothermic treatment — also referred to as neonatal cooling. 

"In 2023, two stillbirths occurred at the hospital. The care provided in relation to these two deliveries is also currently being reviewed externally.

“This incidence of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, resulting in referral for neonatal cooling treatment, is significantly higher than that observed nationally or internationally for a similar time frame.

“Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy has many causes and is essentially the reduction in the supply of blood or oxygen to a baby’s brain before, during, or even after birth. Therapeutic hypothermia is now considered the standard treatment for term infants with moderate to severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. 

"This treatment involves cooling a baby quickly after birth and keeping them cool for several days. It slows the brain’s metabolism and can prevent further damage. The sooner body cooling starts, the better the outcomes for the baby.” 

Women who are attending the unit can contact the HSE on 1800 807 008 if they have any questions.