University Maternity Hospital Limerick has issued an apology for the shortcomings in care that resulted in the death of a baby girl during the induction of labour.
The apology was read out in court as Baby Aoibheann Fitzgerald’s parents, Aoife and Gary from Kilfinane, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, reached a High Court settlement with the HSE, reports Breaking News.
Baby Aoibheann was delivered without a heartbeat by caesarean section at the Limerick facility on 12 August 2021. The confidential settlement was agreed following mediation.
The family’s barrister, Doireann O’Mahony BL, instructed by O’Connor, O’Dea, Binchy solicitors, informed the court that a systems analysis review ordered by the HSE after the tragedy had identified major failings in Baby Aoibheann’s care, reports Breaking News.
These failings, Counsel said, covered inadequate monitoring of both mother and baby, delays in transferring her to the labour ward, and missed chances to intervene.
Counsel stated that there had been an opportunity to save Baby Aoibheann’s life, but that it was not taken, reports Breaking News.
In a written apology to the Fitzgerald family, Ian Carter of HSE Mid West, on behalf of University Maternity Hospital Limerick, expressed sincere apologies “for the failings in care that led to the passing of Baby Aoibheann.”
“We are deeply sorry for the devastating loss of your daughter and sister, and we are committed to learning from these failings to ensure such a tragedy does not happen again,” the letter said, reports Breaking News.
It added: “Baby Aoibheann’s memory will guide us as we work to provide the highest standards of care for every family”, reports Breaking News.
Ms O’Mahony BL told the court that the case involved the deeply tragic loss of Baby Aoibheann, explaining that her mother had attended the hospital the previous day with reduced foetal movement and was admitted for induction, reports Breaking News.
Counsel said their position was that the warning signs of foetal distress were neither properly recognised nor managed.
The Fitzgeralds, she said, have since welcomed two more children, but the loss of Baby Aoibheann “still cuts very deeply”, reports Breaking News.
In the legal action, it was claimed that a major systems-of-care problem was identified following the systems analysis review carried out by the HSE after the tragedy.
It was determined that a different approach or delivery of care would, on the balance of probability, have led to a better outcome and that Aoibheann’s death could have been prevented through more intensive monitoring of both mother and baby in the antenatal and labour wards, reports Breaking News.
It was also concluded, it was claimed, that the possibility of admitting her to the labour ward earlier should have been considered.
Twelve significant recommendations were reportedly made in response to the review, and it was alleged that systemic failures within the HSE had a harmful and causal effect on the outcome for Baby Aoibheann, reports Breaking News.
It was further claimed that there was a failure to establish an appropriate plan of care and a failure to take simple lifesaving measures to prevent such a serious adverse event.
Baby Aoibheann, the court papers stated, was very much wanted and cherished by her loving parents, and she is mourned daily by them and her wider family, reports Breaking News.
It was also alleged that there was a delay in completing the post-mortem report, which was not produced until February 2022. The review team appointed to examine the incident was said to be highly critical of this delay.
Acknowledging the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey conveyed his deepest condolences to the Fitzgerald family for their loss, reports Breaking News.
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