Galway hospital apologies over care of baby who died an hour after birth
High Court Reporters
University Hospital Galway has apologised for “shortcomings in the obstetric care” provided during the delivery of a baby girl who died just one hour after her birth.
The loss of Baby Ailbhe Gilligan five years ago, the High Court heard has left a deep gap in the Gilligan household.
Her parents, Anna and Gerard Gilligan of Oranmore, Co Galway had sued the HSE over the death of their baby girl on October 27th 2020.
The family’s counsel Doireann O’Mahony Bl with John O’Mahony SC told the court it was a very tragic and devastating case.
Counsel said it was their case that CTG monitoring of the baby's heart rate was deficient and at times there was no monitoring of the baby's heart rate and the little girl allegedly suffered a hypoxic ischaemic insult which is a brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen.
Baby Ailbhe, Counsel said died an hour after her birth when attempts to resuscitate her failed.
A letter from University Hospital Galway was read out as the Gilligan family settled their action against the HSE over Baby Ailbhe’s death.
In the letter the general manager of the hospital Chris Kane expressed sincere condolences to the Gilligan family on his behalf and that of the hospital on the death of Ailbhe.
“The hospital acknowledges the shortcoming in the obstetric care provided during Ailbhe’s delivery and we sincerely apologise in this regard,” it said.
It added: “We understand that this statement cannot change or negate your loss, but wish to convey our deepest sympathies to you and to Ailbhe’s extended family.”
In the proceedings it was claimed that the CTG monitoring was allegedly grossly inadequate and it was alleged that at times there was no monitoring of the foetal heart.
It was further claimed that as a result of the alleged delay in reacting to ongoing abnormal CTG readings and an alleged failure properly to monitor CTG, the baby suffered a hypoxic ischaemic insult.
Baby Ailbhe could not be resuscitated and she was pronounced dead about one hour after her birth.
It was contended if she had been delivered earlier resuscitation would have been successful and she would not have died but would have survived.
It was claimed there was an alleged failure to have in place proper continuous CTG monitoring and that lapses in the CTG monitoring had been allegedly caused so that at times there was no foetal heart monitoring.
Early warning signs of foetal distress , it was claimed had been allegedly overlooked.
The HSE admitted a breach of duty in the management of the mother’s labour and delivery of Baby Ailbhe in failing to repeat a foetal scalp blood sample on three occasions or to expedite delivery based on the CTG tracing.
However, the HSE denied that the death of Baby Ailbhe was caused solely and entirely by the admitted breach of duty.
Approving the settlement Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was very sad and tragic case and he conveyed his deepest sympathy to Ailbhe’s parents and the extended family.
