Hospital apologises to family of baby born headfirst onto floor while bedsheets were changed

It was claimed CT scan showed the baby girl suffered head injuries, including swelling to the brain and a brain bleed, and she died five months later, court told

The apology from Galway University Hospital was read out as Baby Chelsie’s parents, Valerie and Michael McDonagh, this week settled High Court nervous shock actions and her grandfather also settled an action on behalf of the family over her death.

A hospital has apologised to the parents of a baby girl who was born “head first” onto a floor after it was claimed the mother was advised to get off her hospital bed so the sheets could be changed.

Baby Chelsie McDonagh from Tuam, Co Galway, the High Court heard, died five months later.

The apology from Galway University Hospital was read out as Baby Chelsie’s parents, Valerie and Michael McDonagh, this week settled High Court nervous shock actions and her grandfather also settled an action on behalf of the family over her death.

The McDonaghs' counsel, Siun Leonowicz Bl instructed by Coleman Legal solicitors, told the court “the baby hit the floor head first”. Counsel said the mother had told the staff she could feel something coming.

It was claimed owing to the circumstances of her delivery, Baby Chelsie was born in poor condition and had to be resuscitated. A CT examination, it was claimed, later showed the baby suffered head injuries, including swelling to the brain and a brain bleed.

In a letter of apology to the McDonagh family which was read out in court, Galway University Hospital said it wished to express sincere condolences on the sad death of Chelsie.

The letter from the hospital general manager Chris Kane added: “The hospital acknowledges that there were a number of complex factors as identified by the external review which included shortcomings in the care received during Chelsea's delivery and we sincerely apologise for them.” 

It added: “We deeply regret the impact and the great trauma and suffering that followed the serious injury suffered by her at the time of delivery. We understand that this statement cannot change or negate your loss, but wish hereby to convey our deepest sympathies to you and Chelsie’s extended family.” 

In the proceedings against the Saolta University Health Care Group, which owns Galway University Hospital, it was claimed Mrs McDonagh from Tuam, Co Galway, was admitted to the hospital on March 2, 2020, shortly after 1am for the delivery of her fourth child.

She was admitted to the labour ward. It was claimed following an examination she was advised to step down off the bed for the sheets to be changed.

While Mrs McDonagh was standing beside the bed, it is claimed she advised that she felt something coming and Baby Chelsie was expelled onto the floor, hitting her head.

Baby Chelsie was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit and a CT examination later showed an acute intracranial hemorrhage.

She was transferred to another hospital for hypothermia treatment and was discharged home on May 6, 2020, but on August 13, 2020, she was brought back to hospital over concerns about her breathing. Baby Chelsie’s condition deteriorated she died later that day.

It is claimed the care afforded to the mother and baby were allowed to fall below an acceptable standard.

All the claims are denied.

In her case, Mrs McDonagh claimed every aspect of her life has been destroyed as a result of the death of her daughter.

She claimed the events that occurred in the labour ward had ruined her life and that of her family and she feels she has been robbed of so much.

She said she laments that while she should be kept up by a baby crying because she is teething, she instead is visiting a graveyard.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was a very sad and tragic case and he offered Chelsie’s family his deepest sympathy.