Baby should have been born at Monaghan Hospital - report

Bronagh Livingstone, the pre-mature baby born while en-route to Cavan General Hospital and who died shortly later should have been delivered at Monaghan General Hospital, an independent report has found.

The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, tonight published the findings of an Independent Review Panel inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Bronagh's death earlier this month. Ms Denise Livingston presented at Monaghan Hospital in an advanced state of labour and after being attended to was transferred to Cavan Hospital. Bronagh was born en-route and died soon after arriving at Cavan Hospital.

The Minister said the independent report differed with the findings of an investigation by the North Eastern Health Board (NEHB). The health board found that the decision to transfer Ms Livingston to Cavan was correct. The report also found that a nurse should have accompanied Ms Livingston in the ambulance.

The review panel, led by management consultant, Ms Maureen P. Lynott, found the birth of Ms Denise Livingston's baby was "imminent" when she arrived at Monaghan Hospital and that rather than transfer her to Cavan Hospital, she should have delivered the child in Monaghan hospital.

A paediatric team from Cavan or Drogheda Hospital should have travelled to Monaghan to assist the mother and child, the report said.

Dr Sean Daly, Master of the Coombe Women's Hospital in Dublin, and a member of the review panel said the equipment at Monaghan was not at fault. When asked would Bronagh have lived if she had been delivered at Monaghan, Dr Daly replied the problem was Bronagh was only 24 weeks and six days. Even under perfect conditions in the highest level of paediatric care, only 30 per cent of babies delivered so early survive, he said.

Weak management or organizational structures may have contributed to the decision to transfer Ms Livingston, the report found. These weaknesses are so serious the Minister this evening appointed the former secretary general of the Department of Enterprise and Employment, Mr Kevin Bonnar, to work with management board at Monaghan Hospital to implement a number of the recommendations in the report.

Starting immediately, Mr Bonnar will work to develop an appropriate management structure for Monaghan and assist the NEHB in its implementation. He will also seek to resolve issues surrounding the supply of emergency services at Monaghan Hospital.

Among the recommendations made by the independent review board is that a "flying squad" of paediatric experts should be based at the six level three hospitals nationwide. These teams could then travel to hospitals experiencing a problematic birth as was the case with Bronagh.

Mr Martin said he agreed with the findings of the independent report and extended his sympathy to the Livingston family.