Baby Bronagh - Lessons must be learned from tragedy

The two reports into the death of ba

That from the independent panel appointed by the minister was sharply critical of the treatment, or lack of it, given to the baby’s mother, Denise.

It is unequivocal in stating that no attempt should have been made to move the mother to a hospital in Cavan and that a consultant obstetrician should have been called in to attend to her.

Another report prepared by the North Eastern Health Board contained conflicting conclusions, but it is the independent opinion which should be more convincing.

Already the minister has appointed a management consultant to evaluate management practices and systems in the Monaghan hospital, and to assist in the implementation of recommendations made in the independent report.

The reports follow on the circumstances which shocked the country whereby Denise Livingstone, in an advanced stage of labour, was sent from Monaghan to Cavan by ambulance. En route she gave birth to baby Bronagh who died later in the hospital in Cavan.

Earlier this week, the Irish Nurses Organisation representative resigned as a member of NEHB in protest at damage to acute hospital services in the region.

The Medical Council, which is the statutory authority responsible for protecting the public in their dealings with the medical profession, had previously found that the Monaghan hospital was suffering from chronic under-investment. Irrespective of the implications of the reports, the shortcomings in the hospital were well-documented by campaigners who were concerned for quite some time that the needs of the community could not be effectively provided for by it.

The authorities, from the minister to the board of the NEHB, were well aware of the deficiencies but, tragically, it took the death of an infant to bring bureaucratic focus to bear on the fact that the worst fears of the community were realised.

It is of little consolation to the Livingstone family that, belatedly, something positive will be done about improving the facilities in Monaghan so that another tragedy can be avoided.

Lessons must be learned from this sad and devastating death, and one must be that the concerns of local communities in relation to something as fundamental as their health service cannot be ignored. People’s health cannot be subordinated to economic expediency and putting a management consultant into the hospital now is, for the Livingstone’s, a fruitless gesture.

Yet, whatever recommendations are contained in the independent report to bring the hospital in Monaghan up to an acceptable standard will have to be implemented without any delay or equivocation.