Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. I am conscious of the personal tragedies of the families at the centre of these sad incidents and do not want to intrude on their privacy. I offer my sincerest sympathy to the families involved who have suffered such a sad loss. As Minister for Health, I do not have access to any patient's medical records, report or medical information which is confidential and should not be discussed on the floor of the House, even if I had access to it. The HSE incident management policy is being followed and reviews of the circumstances of the cases are being undertaken.

Regarding the incident which occurred in November 2012 and referred to by the Deputy, the first clinical incident review was undertaken and completed in July 2014. However, a second clinical review was commissioned in September 2014 following a legal challenge which saw the first review quashed. A draft report from the second review team is due shortly. A second review of a case which occurred in April 2014 is also under way and a draft report is being finalised. A review of a third infant death in Cavan General Hospital in May 2014 is also under way. A fourth infant death occurred earlier this month and the process of establishing a review team in line with HSE's national incident management policy is under way and should happen forthwith. There should be no further delay.

Pending the outcome of the reviews of the incidents referred to and in view of the need to respect the privacy of the families concerned, I am not in a position to make available any further information on the investigations at this time. I have been assured that HIQA will conduct a focused programme of monitoring of compliance with the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare across maternity services nationally. This programme will include the maternity unit at Cavan General Hospital. HIQA has commenced this work which will be completed by the end of the year.

Separately, the HSE is taking steps to commence a quality, risk and patient safety assurance review to assess the current governance arrangements in place in selected HSE-run maternity units. Cavan General Hospital and South Tipperary General Hospital are to be included in this review. If immediate patient safety concerns are identified during this review I expect them to be acted on immediately.

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