Further Review into Maternity Care at Portiuncula Hospital

The HSE has confirmed that another review is currently underway following the recent death of a baby at Portiuncula Hospital in County Galway.

Ongoing Reviews

This marks the tenth review into the care provided to women and babies at the hospital. Investigations began after six babies born in 2024 and one in 2025 were diagnosed with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (“HIE”), a condition caused by reduced blood or oxygen supply to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth.

Two stillbirths that occurred at the hospital in 2023 are also under investigation.

None of the external reviews, which began in January, have been completed to date. It is understood that these investigations are being conducted independently and externally from both the hospital and the regional health authority.

An external management team remains in place to oversee all aspects of maternity and neonatal care at Portiuncula Hospital.

For more details about HIE, see our Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Brain Injury page and Frequently Asked HIE Questions.

Previous Investigation

A previous investigation into the hospital’s maternity services was launched in early 2015, led by Professor James Walker of the University of Leeds. His report, published in May 2018, identified several serious failings, including inadequate staffing, insufficient training and poor communication among maternity staff. These issues were found to have contributed to the deaths of three babies.

Of the 18 births reviewed in that report, six resulted in either stillbirths or the death of the baby shortly after delivery.

For further details, see our prior article External Review into Delivery of Nine Babies at Portiuncula Hospital.

Conclusion

The ongoing reviews reflect continued concerns about the standard of maternity care at Portiuncula Hospital and the broader need for accountability and systemic improvement within the HSE.

As families await answers, the findings of these investigations will be critical in shaping future policies and ensuring safer outcomes for mothers and babies across Ireland.

The hope remains that these efforts will lead to meaningful change, rebuilding trust in a service that plays such a vital role in people's lives.

Further Information

For further details or if you have any concerns about your child’s birth in light of these findings, please contact Avril Scally, Partner and Head of our award-winning Medical Negligence & Personal Injury Team.