HSE defend Mayo maternity service following seven still births in 2023

A SENIOR official with the HSE in the west of Ireland has rejected claims there is 'something wrong' with the maternity service in Mayo University Hospital after seven still births were recorded in 2023.

The maternity service in Mayo University Hospital (MUH) was discussed at a meeting of the HSE Regional Health Forum which heard that in 2023 there were seven still births recorded in the Castlebar hospital with five of those occurring in the final three months of the year.

During the discussion, Castlebar-based Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne and Tony Canavan, the Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West clashed over the level of service provided in the hospital.

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When Cllr Kilcoyne suggested that 'it seem to me that there is something wrong’ with the maternity service within the hospital given the number of still births, Mr Canavan replied, 'No absolutely not'.

Before the meeting, Cllr Kilcoyne had submitted a question to HSE senior management querying if the HSE intended to carry out an investigation into the number of still births at Mayo University Hospital in 2023.

In a lengthy response, it was revealed that rates for total and adjusted still births in Mayo University Hospital were in line with the national average in 2023.

Two of the still births in 2023 were found to have met the definition for serious reportable incidents (SRE) and full external reviews were commissioned on these cases.

The HSE stated that there were no indications of commonalities in these cases and that one of these reviews has been completed and shared with the family and the second is underway.

Cllr Kilcoyne told the meeting that he noted the reply but it was his view that these deaths should not be occurring in hospitals and the HSE should be aiming for zero still births.

This ascertain was rejected by Mr Canavan who said that measures are in place across all Irish hospitals to ensure that the maternity units are performing at acceptable parameters and if they are not they are addressed. He added that outcomes for babies in Irish hospitals were improving and mothers entering hospital should be confident of a positive outcome.

“There are circumstances in which still births occur and are outside all of our control. It is important to understand that when we have a still birth we review it to make sure that is the case. It is also possible that there is learning from some of these cases as well and we should learn from them and try to improve. Of course the evidence shows our services are improving and the outcomes for babies are improving.

“One of the things which should be an assurance to people is the level of openness that exists now and the level of scrutiny which exists in our maternity services and how people are using it to improve the level of services across all of our hospitals including in Mayo,” he said.

However, Cllr Kilcoyne reiterated his belief that five still births in a three month period was not acceptable and it indicated that something was not right in the hospital.

“Mothers want to be assured that five still births in a three month period is not acceptable in a maternity hospital,” he said.

Mr Canavan told the Independent councillor that neither of them were qualified to make such a determination.