The number of baby deaths and baby-related injuries reported to the HSE have increased fivefold since 2016. Figures released this week reveal that a total of 94 maternity-related “care management events” involving babies were reported in 2023, compared to 18 such events in 2016.
The figures evidencing the significant rise were released to the Irish Examiner through a Freedom of Information Request, and relate solely to near-term and full-term babies weighing more than 5.5lbs or 2,500g. However, in total, over the last eight years, there were 655 Serious Reportable Events (SREs) involving babies reported to the HSE in the last eight years.
This is despite a 15 per cent decline in Ireland’s birth rate since 2016.
The Examiner reports that the figures confirm that the Serious Reportable Events (SRE) involve at least 315 baby deaths, and of the babies who survived, the injury they suffered is described as “encephalopathy”, which is brain damage.
Because of the serious nature of reports to the HSE, there is a requirement that such incidents are investigated, and according to the health body, it is “mandatory that investigations commence within 48 hours of (Maternity Units) becoming aware of the incident and that these investigations are completed within four months of commencing”.
Despite this, the HSE admitted last August that it does not actually hold a centralised record of SRE review outcomes, meaning that it is not aware of how many of the SREs resulted in an investigation or review that led to a negative finding.
It said it did not know the outcome of the investigations into the almost 500 baby deaths and birth-related brain injuries that had happened in Irish hospitals over the past four years. While the HSE said that the majority of investigations had been completed, the outcomes were not held locally in each hospital, and had not been collated centrally on any HSE system.
Safer Births Ireland, an organisation representing both bereaved parents and those caring for children who have suffered birth injuries, said the rise in newborn deaths and birth injuries over the past decade was “alarming.”
The spokesperson said that the recent figures released by the Irish Examiner “highlight a disturbing trend that must be addressed urgently. “
“We are particularly concerned that the Health Service Executive (HSE) does not maintain a centralised database for Serious Reportable Events. Without such a system, the potential for learning from past failures, findings, and recommendations across all maternity hospitals is severely limited,” Safer Births Ireland said.
“Effective change cannot occur without a clear understanding of these incidents on a national scale. It is imperative that we implement a robust review process that collects and analyses data continuously. Only through a systematic approach can we identify and rectify the preventable and avoidable issues that lead to tragic outcomes for newborns and their families.”
The group is advocating for an urgent independent review to investigate the issues comprehensively. A petition calling for a National Independent Maternity Commissioned Inquiry in Ireland has gained almost 3,000 signatures.
“This is a critical step towards ensuring that every birth is safe and that no family has to endure the heartbreak of losing a child or coping with a life-altering injury due to systemic failures.”