A medical negligence solicitor in Sligo says the new Standards for Maternity Services need to be implemented properly.
Damien Tansey also says he hopes hospitals will implement the new standards as soon as possible to allay fears that have developed in recent years.
The National Standards for Safer Better Maternity Services were launched by Minister for Health Simon Harris just before Christmas.
The standards were developed by the Health Information and Quality Authority to compliment it’s maternity strategy launched at the beginning of 2016.
HIQA says it describes what safe, high-quality maternity services should look like, and will help to ensure that services are meeting the necessary outcomes for people using their facilities.
It said it is committed to the development of specific standards following a number of high-profile failings in the delivery of safe, high-quality care in maternity services.
The maternity standards cover person-centred care and support, better health and well-being, and improving outcomes for women and their babies.
In recent years there were two cases of new mothers dying after giving birth in Sligo University Hospital.
Dhara Kivlehan from Dromahair, Co. Leitrim passed away 8 days after giving birth in 2010.
Sally Rowlette from Dromore West, Co. Sligo, also died following the birth of her fourth child at the hospital in February 2013.
Medical Negligence solicitor in Sligo, Damien Tansey, represented both families and he has welcomed the new guidelines.
Speaking to Ocean FM he says they need to be implemented properly and if they are it should lead to cases like those not being repeated.
He also believes that the resources needed to make the guidelines a success need to be made available.
