Limerick hospital offers 'sincere and heartfelt apologies' to mother of baby who died due to 'failure' in care

Irish Examiner

5 days ago

University Maternity Hospital Limerick has apologised to the mother of a little boy who died and acknowledged a breach in the hospital's duty of care to the baby, which resulted in a delayed diagnosis 'with devastating consequences'.
'We are deeply sorry for your loss and for the profound sorrow of being denied the opportunity to watch your beloved son grow and thrive,' the hospital said in a letter read out in the High Court.
The mother of the baby, who was 16 weeks old when he died, has settled a High Court action against the HSE over his death.
The mother or child cannot be identified by order of the court.
The family's counsel, Dr John O'Mahony SC with Doireann O Mahony BL, instructed by solicitor Brigid O'Donnell, told the High Court it was a sad and tragic case.
Counsel said when the little boy was born at the Limerick hospital in January 2021, he was doing well until two weeks later his condition deteriorated and tests including lumbar punctures showed he had an E coli meningitis infection and he was started on antibiotics.
Counsel said the baby's condition later suddenly deteriorated and he had a fever. He deteriorated further and needed to be intubated and ventilated.
An MRI scan showed global ischaemia, which is when blood flow to the brain is reduced. The baby later received palliative care and he died when he was 16 weeks old.
In the letter from the chief executive of HSE Midwest Acute Services Ian Carter, University Maternity Hospital, Limerick offered 'sincere and heartfelt apologies" to the mother and wider family 'for this failure'.
It said: 'On behalf of the management and staff at University Maternity Hospital, Limerick, I wish to acknowledge the breach in our duty of care to your baby, which resulted in a delayed diagnosis with devastating consequences for you and your extended family.'
It added: 'Please know that our thoughts are with you, and we extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family at this incredibly difficult time.'
In the proceedings, it was claimed there was an alleged failure to take any or any proper action which such was warranted by the baby's condition and an alleged delay had been caused in enabling the baby to receive proper urgent care and treatment for his condition.
It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to recognise the baby's obvious signs of sepsis when he was moved into intensive care on February 19, 2021, and to ensure the administration of the appropriate antibiotics urgently or in a timely fashion.
There was, it was claimed, an alleged delay in the administration of broad spectrum antibiotics when it ought to have bene known such a delay would expose the baby to a serious risk of injury or death.
The claims had been denied.
Noting the settlement and the division of the statutory mental distress solatium payment, Mr Justice Paul Coffey extended his deepest sympathy to the baby's mother and extended family.