Health board rejects criticism following baby's death
The North Eastern Health Board has rejected some of the criticism levelled at it following the death of a premature baby at Cavan General Hospital on Wednesday.
The baby's mother had first travelled to Monaghan General Hospital, but was sent to Cavan because maternity services in Monaghan were suspended early last year.
Her baby daughter was born in the ambulance during the trip, but died in Cavan. Health Minister Micheal Martin has insisted that emergency procedures were in place in Monaghan to deal with such cases, but has declined to comment further until a report into the matter is completed.
The health board has also refused to comment in detail about the case until the report is finalised, but it said today that its policy for treating emergency births is to get the mother assessed, stabilised and transferred as quickly as possible.
