Savita’s husband to view report before Cabinet

Health Minister James Reilly, on a visit to Clare this week, reaffirmed that the final report concerning the death of Ms Halappanavar would not be presented to Cabinet until her husband, Praveen or his agent had an opportunity to express their views.

He wants to give Mr Halappanavar and his family all the time and space he needs to make his comments before the final report is completed.

Asked about the inquest, which started on Monday into the circumstances surrounding her death in Galway University Hospital, he hoped it would outline what had happened in the tragedy.  

He declined to comment on what the inquest would achieve or the outcome before it concluded.

Meanwhile, the HSE has been requested to speed up the compilation of the final report into Ms Halappanavar’s death.

HSE West Forum chairman, Councillor Pádraig Conneely, made the plea at a recent forum meeting on Tuesday, where he expressed concern the final report into Ms Halappanavar’s death was still not completed almost six months later.

Councillor Conneely also appealed to Ms Halappanavar’s husband, Praveen to engage with the HSE’s internal report, despite previous public statements from Mr Halappanavar confirming that he would not do so.

Councillor Conneely admitted he was “disappointed” at the lack of progress with the report over the past six months, as he thought it would be completed in a “faster manner” given the “narrow focus” of the review and the fact it related to the death of one woman.

He also noted that the “eyes of the world” were on University Hospital Galway following Ms Halappanavar’s death.

He stressed that any further delay would add to the trauma being experienced by Praveen and asked officials to confirm whether the report had been completed, whether it had been send to the Health Minister and when it would be made public.

“What we need is finality on this case and to establish an outcome, because the hospital is at risk and in the eye of the storm. We need to complete this report on this very sad case,” he said.

UGH manager, Tony Canavan stated there was currently no exact indication as to when the final report would be available, as further changes may have to be made if Mr Halappanavar had any comments or feedback on its contents.

“The report is extremely detailed and involves a number of drafts that have to be checked and rechecked with those involved,” he said.