23/01/2015

Maternity Hospitals 'Are Safe' - Minister Varadkar

As the Health Service Executive continues to investigate claims of "serious deficiencies" in maternity care at Portiuncula Hospital, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said hospitals are "safe".

Speaking about the HSE investigation, which was launched after two babies died between February and November last year, Mr Varadkar told the RTÉ Today programme with Sean O'Rouke that it is not clear if medical negligence was involved in case at Portiuncula Hospital.

The minister said everyone involved is clear and there needs to be "full honest disclosure", however he doesn't want pregnant women to be "unnecessarily worried" and that maternity hospitals in Ireland "are safe".

(MH/CD)

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