Sharp rise in payouts relating to incidents on maternity wards

There has been a significant increase in the number of payouts relating to adverse incidents in maternity units across the country. According to figures supplied to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children there were 324 payouts for incidents including injury, death and surgical error last year, compared to 214 in 2010. The Irish Examiner reports that areas of concern include wrongful death, cerebral palsy and brain injuries and injury caused by forceps delivery. Although the exact amount paid out in maternity compensation has not been revealed, the State Claims Agency paid out €121.2m in compensation and costs in 2013, compared to €87.7m in 2012