Women with 'higher risk' pregnancies to have care transferred from Portiuncula Hospital

Ellen O'Donoghue

Expectant mothers whose pregnancies are considered "higher risk" are to have their care transferred from Portiuncula University Hospital to other hospitals.

The update comes as external reviews into care given to women and babies at Portiuncula Hospital continues.

Factors which contribute to "higher risk pregnancies" include previous loss of a baby, obesity and maternal age.

Women likely to deliver their baby before 35 weeks of pregnancy will also have their care moved.

Earlier this year, the HSE announced reviews would be carried out at Portiuncula University Hospital, following concerns about nine deliveries at the hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, since 2023, including two stillbirths.

The investigations were started after six babies delivered in 2024 and one in 2025 had hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) – a reduction in the supply of blood or oxygen to a baby’s brain before, during or after birth.

Six of the babies were referred for neonatal therapeutic hypothermia, known as neonatal cooling.

In light of the concerns highlighted in the review, pregnant women who are deemed to be “higher risk” will have their care moved elsewhere.

A previous inquiry into maternity services at the hospital was established in early 2015, with James Walker, Professor of Obstetrics at the University of Leeds, appointed to head it.

The findings of the Walker report, published in May 2018, identified multiple serious failures. These included governance issues, staffing issues, timely recognition of deteriorating clinical situations, and poor communication among maternity staff, which contributed to the death of three babies.

Of the 18 births examined, six involved either stillbirths or the death of the baby shortly after delivery.