Tragedy calls for health review

Neither recriminations nor Dáil debates will restore the life of Bronagh Livingstone, the new-born ba

The Minister for Health, Micheál Martin, has ordered a full inquiry into the baby girl’s death, yet there is no mystery as to why or how it happened. Quite simply, her mother, who was 24 weeks pregnant and in an advanced stage of labour, was denied treatment at Monaghan General Hospital.

Instead, Denise Livingstone was dispatched by ambulance to the hospital in Cavan 40 miles away, but gave birth to the premature baby before she reached it. Tragically, the infant girl died later in the hospital.