The HSE has confirmed that an investigation into the death of a woman following the birth of twins at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda last year, has been completed.
Garda sergeant Tania McCabe (34) died at the hospital on March 9th last year. One of her sons also died.
The
Irish Timesreported last year that Ms McCabe (nee McCorcoran) had presented at the hospital on March 6th, a few days before the infants were born, claiming her waters had broken. She had abdominal pain and was kept in hospital overnight but was sent home the following day with a prescription for antibiotics after being told she had a kidney infection.
Ms McCabe returned to the hospital a day later though when pain persisted. When she was examined, she was already well into her labour and was rushed to theatre for an emergency Caesarean section. Her twin boys were delivered and one died shortly afterwards.
Mrs McCabe bled heavily after her Caesarean section and died early the next morning, March 9th.
The inquiry team has been chaired by Dr Seosamh Ó Coigligh, a consultant obstetrician at the Lourdes hospital.
The HSE confirmed today that the investigation into the circumstances of the death has now been completed and that a report had been given to her husband.
According to the McCabe's family solicitor, Michael Boylan, the report concludes that the level of care that Ms McCabe received was compromised because of the workload and the environment in the maternity unit at the hospital.
Speaking on RTÉ News today, Mr Boylan said that the family had many unanswered questions centering around the decision to discharge Ms McCabe from hospital on March 7th.