Breaking News
Head of HSE Savita inquiry says legal clarity needed to stop another such death
Galway Bay fm newsroom – If Savita Halapannavar was given a termination she may still be alive today.
That’ s according to the head of the HSE inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death at University Hospital Galway on the 28th of October last year.
The report highlighted three main factors in the 31 year old’s death, from blood poisoning following a miscarriage.
The report into the death of Savita Halappanavar says medical staff failed to offer all management options – including a termination.
It also says there was an inadequate assessment and monitoring of the 31-year-old’s deteriorating condition.
Furthermore, the Health Service Executive appointed inquiry team also says there was a non adherence to the relevant clinical guidelines on sepsis.
The investigation team was chaired by Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,at St. George’s Hospital, University of London.
He says legal clarity is needed to stop another incident from happening again.
The HSE report has been forwarded to the Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
Health Minister James Reilly said he wants their advice on any action considered appropriate – as the report raises several important issues in relation to professional practice.
Minister Reilly said the report lays bare a set of unacceptable factors that led to the tragic death of a young woman.
The Minister has also invited the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology to meet him to discuss the implications of the report.
Also, the Health Service Executive and University Hospital Galway are apologising unreservedly to Savita Halappanavar’s husband Praveen and her family.
Dr Patrick Nash is the Clinical Director at University Hospital Galway and say the HSE and UHG will fully implement all the recommendations in the report.
Breaking News
Death announced of former Bishop of Galway
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Connacht Tribune
O’Flaherty’s promising start
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
Connacht Tribune
Tallies underway as votes are sorted
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.