The HSE has rejected claims there is an ongoing problem with thefts at one of the country's busiest maternity hospitals after a second mother was robbed while in labour at the University Maternity Hospital in Limerick.
Catherine Carmody from Patrickswell, Co Limerick claims she went into shock and her labour was delayed after she discovered her wallet had been stolen while she was walking the corridors of the hospital to help speed up the delivery.
Ms Carmody is the second woman to go public after having property stolen at the hospital in recent weeks.
Ms Carmody had a purse with €46 stolen on August 15th while Jill Leonard, an American woman living in Ennis, Co Clare, was robbed on August 24th after the birth of her son Kane.
Ms Leonard had a smartphone and wallet stolen while she was giving birth to her son.
Both incidents have been referred to gardai.
In an interview with the Limerick Leader newspaper, Ms Carmody claimed she was so shocked her wallet was stolen that her labour stopped and he son wasn’t born for two more days.
“I was in labour, and was told to go for a walk to help speed things up. But when I returned my purse had been stolen and they had gone through all my personal things.
Ms Carmody’s wallet was subsequently found in the toilet but the cash had been taken.
“The doctor told me and I went into shock. The labour stopped and I did not have Max until Saturday – and this happened on the Thursday,” she explained.
“I was told that this is an ongoing problem at the hospital. I spoke to the gardai but I have heard nothing back and it appears that nothing is being done about this problem,” she added. “We should have been warned in advance.”
According to a spokesman for the HSE there have been two reported cases of theft at the maternity hospital in the past three months, and added “while these are two robberies too many they don’t constitute an ongoing problem”.
“There are warning signs in place throughout the hospital but we are reviewing them currently with a view to providing more.
“Ms Carmody’s purse was subsequently found with all cards etc still in place but the €46 was missing.”
“People are advised not to bring valuables into the hospital or to send them home and the giving of this advice is being addressed currently at all staff meetings to ensure that it’s happening.
It is most regrettable that Ms Carmody was not advised in this manner.
“No comment can be offered on the clinical issue raised as it would constitute a breach of patient confidentiality,” he added.
Formerly known as the Mid Western Regional Maternity Hospital, the University Maternity Hospital in Limerick is the principal public maternity hospital for the mid west.
One of the busiest maternity hospitals in the country an average of 5,000 babies are born at the hospital each year.