HSE to launch 'confidential' inquiry into mother and baby childbirth deaths

The HSE are to begin a confidential review into baby and maternal deaths during childbirth between 2021 and 2023 later this year.

The terms of reference have yet to be agreed and it will be organised by the National Women & Infants Programme.

In a statement to RTÉ the HSE said that there will be "public and patient involvement in the process".

The inquiry will initially cover the years 2021-2023 and then move on to others years and is due to begin later this year.

However campaign groups are calling on the government to establish an independent review into perinatal deaths in Ireland.

Claire Cullen, co-founder of Safer Births Ireland said concerns have been raised in various cases around fetal heartbeat monitoring, non-adherence to basic standards and guidelines, women not being listened to and apparent failures to recognise signs of labour and delayed deliveries.

Claire's son Aaron died five days after she gave birth at the Midland Regional Hospital in May 2016. The HSE later settled a case in the High Court for mental distress.

Safer Births Ireland say they welcome the review but have expressed concerns over the confidential nature of the inquiry.

The HSE said that "expert assessors", drawn from sections of maternal/foetal medicine such as obstetrics, midwifery, neonatology, neonatal nursing, perinatal pathology and foetal medicine, would be appointed to assess cases.

No assessor will be appointed to review cases in their own hospital, the HSE said.