Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join the Minister in extending sincere sympathy to the grieving family once again. However, it was not at the request of the family that I tabled this question, but because another tragic outcome has presented at Cavan General Hospital in the past fortnight. All families in the dependent catchment, including all of counties Cavan and Monaghan, particularly all expectant mothers and women of childbearing age, are concerned to know what has happened. They want to know why these tragic outcomes occurred. They want to know that the lessons, if there are any, are learned and that the prospects of a further bad outcome are eliminated.

Having inquired into the status of the report into the November 2012 event, I have discovered this report is still in draft form and has not been signed off on. Why does it take 18 months and more to establish the facts of such an occurrence? Given the facts may well inform future practice within the hospital, would it not be essential to ensure early completion of the investigation and report and the implementation of any recommendations that may be made? I and people generally are alarmed that another sad outcome, where a C-section is also involved, has now occurred and the report on the first incident has not yet been presented.

When will this report be completed and will it be published, even in redacted form? We do not want to encroach on the privacy of the family involved, but surely lessons can and must be learned. This is all about restoring confidence in the excellent staff in the maternity unit in Cavan General Hospital and the systems and processes they employ in the service they provide.

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