Maternity services at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise will now be run by The Coombe Hospital following a damning draft HIQA report into the deaths of five newborn babies.
The takeover was one of the key recommendations of the chief medical officer's report
According to Health Minister Leo Varadkar, the memorandum of understanding between the two hospitals is “a significant step" in improving maternity services.
"Patient safety and service quality should always be our top priority, right across the health service." he said.
The Minister has asked the HSE to “replicate this governance arrangement across all hospital groups” to “ensure that smaller maternity services are supported to provide quality and safe maternity care for women and babies”.
According to Chief Executive of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, Dr Susan O’Reilly, the number of obstetrical consultants at Midland Regional Hospital has increased from three to four. 10 extra midwives have been added to the staff.
