Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health David Cullinane TD has expressed support for Safer Births Ireland’s call for a fully independent review of newborn deaths during and shortly after childbirth. He said a fully independent review was needed to ensure confidence in the process and that no stone was left unturned.

Teachta Cullinane said that the advocacy group Safer Births Ireland had compiled a concerning and substantial list of perinatal deaths which would indicate a trend in some places, but that the Minister for Health has said his department did not identify a trend.

He said that, due to the gravity of the situation, the Health Committee had been pursuing the issue with the Department of Health, but that he is not satisfied with the answers provided to date.

Teachta Cullinane said:

“Safer Births Ireland has brought to light a concerning and apparent trend in newborn deaths. The Oireachtas Health Committee has taken this seriously and we have been engaging with the Department of Health on the matter. We very recently received a response, but I am not satisfied that enough work has been done to give this issue the attention it deserves.

“Ireland should be the safest place in the world to give birth, to have a child and to be a mother. Sadly, though standards are high, we are not where we should be due to underinvestment in the Maternity Strategy and our hospitals. Expectant parents deserve to have confidence in the safety of maternity services, and it is the job of the HSE and Minister for Health to make sure this is the case.

“The fact that the HSE and the Women and Infants Programme has decided to set up a review is welcome. A common complaint in many of the cases identified, and echoed by Safer Births Ireland, is that many of the mothers who lost a child shortly after childbirth felt that they were not being listened to.

“The Minister needs to listen to these parents now and ensure an independent review takes place. They feel, and I agree, that a fully independent review is necessary to ensure confidence and trust in the process, and make sure that no stone is left unturned in examining this issue.

“The review must look at the potential trend identified by Safer Births Ireland, but the HSE must also look seriously and frankly at what is needed to make Ireland the safest country to give birth in. That must be our ambition.”