Concerns Over Delivery Practices at Portiuncula University Hospital
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External reviews are being conducted into the delivery of nine babies at Portiuncula Hospital, Galway after concerns were raised in relation to the provision of maternity services.
Six babies delivered in 2024 and one in 2025 had hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) with six referred for neonatal hypothermic treatment. In addition, two stillbirths occurred at the hospital in 2023 and the circumstances were also being reviewed externally, it has been reported. The incidence of HIE has been described by the clinical director for HSE West and North West, Dr Pat Nash as "significantly higher than that observed nationally or internationally for a similar time frame.” In a statement issued on Monday evening, the HSE has said that an external management team was to oversee and manage maternity services there over coming months.
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a serious condition that occurs when a baby's brain does not receive enough oxygen and blood flow before, during, or shortly after birth. This lack of oxygen can lead to brain injury, which can result in a range of long-term health problems and disabilities such as cerebral palsy.
This is not the first time that Portuincula Hospital's maternity services have been the subject of review or concern. Many will recall the publication of the report on maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital in 2018 which identified staffing issues, a lack of training and poor communication among staff, that had contributed to the death of three babies. Between 2019 and 2023, a further eight reviews took place into cases of concern. A series of service-improvement plans and other measures were implemented at the unit following these reviews.
While the cause of the abnormal number of HIEs is yet to be understood or made public, yesterday's news has naturally raised concerns among those advocating for improved maternity care that there could be systemic issues at play. It is important that the reports into each individual case are completed as soon as possible to give the families affected, comprehensive and honest answers about what happened to cause their baby's harm or death. It may ultimately emerge that there is a need to conduct a much wider review into the maternity service generally.
Written by Johan Verbruggen.