Ruddle inquiry - How many more babies must die?

THE perception that Ireland’s creaking health service is governed more by financial considerations than principles of patient care and compassion has deepened following the latest disclosures in the controversy surrounding the death of baby Róisín Ruddle.

It transpires that, five weeks before her death, Health Minister Micheál Martin and his department had been warned by management at Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin, that Government cutbacks were forcing crucial operations for children to be cancelled.

If prompt action had been taken to sort out this deplorable situation, baby Róisín's life would have been saved.