Audit reveals deficits in HSE safety system for pregnant women

A warning system established following the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar is not being run effectively in the majority of Irish maternity hospitals, the HSE has admitted. The Irish Maternity Early Warning Score (I-MEWS) system is designed to carefully monitor the vital signs of pregnant patients for early detection of life threatening illness in pregnancy and the postnatal period. While the HSE gave "reasonable assurances" that I-MEWS system was operational, a series of audits carried out last summer revealed that further training in the system is necessary, particularly in scoring observations. The report, which examined compliance in CUMH, the Rotunda, The Coombe, UHG, Cavan General, Midlands Regionals and South Tipperary General, stated: "Excluding the Rotunda, the audit team found deficits in all hospitals in relation to the completion of repeat observations within the recommended timeframes following a trigger." To find out more about the I-MEWS system, click here. [caption id="attachment_210676" align="alignnone" width="790"] The Irish Maternity Early Warning Score (I-MEWS)[/caption]