Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Minister for Health the actions he has taken in view of a recent inquest (details supplied) in County Sligo; if he will meet the family of the deceased to hear their concerns at first hand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47444/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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At the outset, I want to offer my deepest sympathies to Mr Sean Rowlette, his children Leanne, Abbie, Joseph and Sally and their families, on the sad and tragic loss of Ms Rowlette.

I am committed to the improvement of maternity services. On 26th November last, I endorsed and launched a further three National Clinical Guidelines. Two of the guidelines promote safety and higher standards in maternity hospitals through standardising an early warning system and clinical handover communication tools. These assist the early identification of deterioration and on-going monitoring of the woman’s condition. The third guideline specifically aims to tackle sepsis for patients, both adults and children, in the emergency department and in hospital wards. The guidelines were quality assured by the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee and were subject to international peer review. I should also draw attention to the additional funding of €2m which has been provided in the recently published national service plan to address current pressures in maternity services. The measures proposed include the appointment of additional obstetricians, midwives and other frontline staff. An additional consultant obstetrician post will be assigned to Sligo Regional Hospital. In 2015 the HSE will also establish a new National Maternity Office within its Acute Hospitals Division which I hope will drive further improvement in our maternity services.

The HSE has advised that improvements continue to be made in Sligo Regional Hospital including:

- The introduction of a structured handover meeting with medical staff, from one shift to the next.

- The establishment of a Postnatal Communication Process for women who developed severe HELLP syndrome.

- Enhancement of the admission and discharge policy for ICU.

- The continued development of risk management structures and processes.

I believe it is important that we reassure women, and indeed their families, that Ireland continues to be a safe country for a woman to give birth, and our safety record compares favourably with other developed countries.

While I have not yet received a request from the family concerned for a meeting, I can assure the Deputy that any such request will be treated with compassion and sensitivity.