Baby girl dies after being born in ambulance on way to hospital
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Thursday January 29 2009
A BABY has died after being born during an ambulance journey from Mullingar to a Dublin hospital.
Medics pulled the ambulance over on the side of the road to deliver the child when it became clear that the delivery would have to take place before the mother-to-be reached hospital in the capital.
The tragedy began to unfold on Tuesday when the child's mother arrived at the Midland Regional Hospital where she was treated by two doctors.
The consultant paediatrician and gynaecologist decided that her case warranted a transfer to the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin.
A paediatric registrar and a midwife were assigned by the hospital to travel with the patient, who went into labour on the outskirts of Dublin.
Nearing Lucan, a decision was made that the ambulance should pull over as the woman was so close to giving birth.
The baby was delivered in the ambulance in Lucan but was found to have serious breathing problems.
DEATH
A garda escort was then provided for the ambulance and the mother and baby were brought to Holles Street.
However, desperate efforts to resuscitate the infant were unsuccessful.
The HSE has pleaded patient confidentiality in the case and has not commented on the exact circumstances that led to the child's death.
The health authority does not intend to reveal details about why the woman went to Mullingar Hospital or why it was judged necessary to transfer her to Dublin in such a rush.
A HSE spokesperson said: "Protocol was followed at all stages during this transfer."
Garda provided an escort only after the ambulance stopped in Lucan. A spokesperson said they "endeavour to provide escorts in medical emergency cases" but did not comment on the response to an earlier request for an escort for the ambulance.
kdoyle@herald.ie
- Kevin Doyle
