HSE funded counselling for up to 18 women in Portlaoise hospital

The Health Service Executive has funded counselling for up to 18 women who lost babies after delivering at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, it has emerged.

About 15 women and their families have been referred to psychological services for bereavement counselling and other supports, while the HSE has agreed to cover the costs in another three cases where families made their own arrangements to see a counsellor. In addition to these 18 cases, the HSE sent letters to 37 families who attended the hospital, asking them to make contact if they needed support.

Last year, it emerged five babies died in similar circumstances after being delivered at full term in the hospital. A report by Department of Health chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan questioned the safety of the unit and found families and patients were treated "in a poor and, at times, appalling manner with limited respect, kindness, courtesy and consideration".

Complaints examined

The publicity around these cases prompted other women who had given birth at Portlaoise and in other maternity hospitals to contact a HSE helpline. About 170 complaints were made, spanning a 25-year period. They are currently being examined by a clinical review team.

The information about counselling for women who gave birth in Portlaoise is contained in a letter to Minister for Health Leo Varadkar from HSE deputy director general Laverne McGuinness last July. It was obtained under Freedom of Information requests to the Department of Health by Midlands Radio 103.

The department also released an email by local TD Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan to a regional HSE official in which Mr Flanagan describes every department in the hospital as "in crisis". Mr Flanagan said in the letter he had just attended a meeting of the medical board at Portlaoise at which consultants were "most fearful" for the safety of patients. He said he too was concerned.

“As a local TD I cannot stand over this situation,” he stated in the email sent last May.