Manager deplores Halappanavar case coverage

The leaked draft report examining the circumstances surrounding the death of a young Indian woman at University Hospital Galway suggests a “great systems breakdown among clinicians and medics”.

That’s according to the HSE West Forum chairman, Councillor Padraig Conneely, who expressed grave concern about the contents of the draft report investigating the death of Savita Halappanavar.

His comments at a HSE West Forum meeting on Thursday came after the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) visited the hospital the previous day as part of their investigation.

The Galway Coroner has set April 8 as the starting date for the inquest into the first maternal death at the hospital in 17 years.

The hospital is cooperating fully with the investigation team established by the HSE, the coroner, the separate HIQA investigation and Mr Halappanavar’s legal representatives.

It is waiting for the report for the HSE’s National Incident Management Team (NIMT) appointed investigation team.

Councillor Conneely stated the final report into Ms Halappanavar’s death was circulated the previous week with parties being given two weeks to respond before it goes to the Department of Health.

The Fine Gael Councillor told members he was told the final report was similar to the one leaked to a national newspaper. If this proves to be the case, he warned the contents would be very “distressing and disturbing” for all affected parties.

He acknowledged the contents of the draft report had dented confidence in the maternity hospital which was a pity, because it had a great record.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Mary Hoade pointed out this was a very sensitive issue for the family and hospital staff. Councillor Hoade stressed members should wait until the final report was completed before there was any further discussion to give the family the time it needed to deal with this situation.

Councillor Brian Meaney said he had proposed at a previous meeting that the HSE conduct a sworn public inquiry in line with the family’s wishes, which wasn’t supported.

The Green Party councillor argued the forum should reconsider its position if the family aren’t happy with the final report.

Ms Halappanavara, who was about 17 weeks pregnant, was suffering from a miscarriage when she sought medical attention and treatment at University Hospital Galway.

Her husband, Praveen Halappanavar, claimed that the hospital told them the foetus was not viable, but they could not perform an abortion under Irish Law as the foetus heart was still beating.

During the next several days, Halappanavar was diagnosed with septicaemia which lead to multiple organ failure and her death last October 22.

Mr Tony Canavan, chief operating officer for the group, speaking in his capacity as general manager of University Hospital Galway, Tony Canavan criticised the recent media coverage of the draft clinical incident review and sympathised with Mr Halappanavar on his “understandable distress”.

Confirming the HSE would not be commenting on media reports, he urged forum members not to make any comment that could add to Mr Halapannavar’s distress or to raise any questions or issues that impinge on patient privacy or could prejudice the work of the investigation team, the coroner or HIQA.

“The coverage in the media was unacceptable and regrettable, showing no respect for the dignity of the patient and her family or for due process.

“I know that it was also distressing for many of the staff involved who contributed to the investigation. The staff at the hospital have co-operated fully and complied with all the demands of this investigation,” he said.

In line with national and international practice, an internal review was established by UHG on 30 October and the HSE’s National Incident Management Team was verbally notified, followed by a formal notification on November 1.

On November 14, the HSE confirmed that the NIMT would oversee the investigation and the internal review was subsumed into that process.

On November 19, the HSE announced an independent international expert in obstetrics and gynaecology as chair of the investigation team and provided details of the other team members.