An audit of operating theatres at Cavan General Hospital has found no evidence of a delay in treatment when two medical emergencies occur at the same time, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The audit was called for in an external report drawn up in response to a complaint from a woman who gave birth in the hospital in January 2012. At the time that the woman was giving birth vaginally, the operating theatre available for emergency services was being used for another woman’s Caesarean. The woman, whose baby was born “flat” but made a full recovery, believed her child should have been born by Caesarean section.
The hospital has been the focus of controversy following the deaths of three babies in the past 18 months, and its maternity services are being examined by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa). Claims that delays or a lack of resources may have affected outcomes in some of these cases have been rejected by the HSE.
Inappropriate In the January 2012 incident, the review of the woman’s treatment found
she should have been examined earlier, once admitted to the delivery suite, but said the decision to proceed with an instrumental delivery while the consultant proceeded with the other woman’s Caesarean was “not inappropriate”.
It also suggested an audit be carried out on the incidence of two emergencies occurring simultaneously and that “current contingencies” be reviewed in the light of the results of the audit.
Asked whether the recommendations in the report had been implemented, the HSE said the hospital had “actioned” all of them. Some were complete and others were in the process of completion.
Theatre audit
It said an audit of emergency theatres was carried out, which found that on three occasions a second theatre was required for a Caesarean section.
“The audit showed there was no delay in opening the second theatre on all three occasions.” According to the hospital, all four operating theatres can be used for emergency cases “24/7”.
“On occasions, two sections have been carried out simultaneously and there are contingency plans to facilitate more than one emergency, should this occur at any given time.”
The hospital has apologised for the distress caused.
