An expectant mother has called on the Health Service Executive to investigate maternity services at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise after she was mistakenly told her baby had died.
Aimee Nolan, originally from Dublin but living in Co Offaly, attended the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise on Monday 8 December as a result of a referral from her GP, who had concerns about the baby's heartbeat.
Following a two-hour wait, a doctor carried out a scan on Ms Nolan, who is 14 weeks' pregnant.
She was informed there was no heartbeat and that her baby appeared to be at developmental stage of nine weeks.
The doctor said it appeared the baby had not grown for the past nine weeks.
Ms Nolan was then told her baby was dead.
She was asked to return to the hospital next Monday to discuss her options of either a D&C procedure (dilation and curettage) or medication to induce labour.
Ms Nolan's husband contacted the hospital the following day and requested an earlier date for a D&C.
They were given an appointment for Wednesday.
When Ms Nolan and her husband returned on Wednesday they were met by staff from the maternity unit.
Discussions took place about the options available to Ms Nolan.
A second scan was undertaken and it was discovered there was a heartbeat, the baby was alive and was the correct size for 14/15 weeks.
The Nolans were also told that protocols state that when there was no heartbeat detected on the previous scan a second opinion should have been sought on the day.
However, this did not happen and Ms Nolan was sent home and told to return a week later.
In a statement, the HSE said that while it does not comment on individual patients' care, it confirmed that it was aware of the circumstances of the case.
It said the matter was being fully reviewed.
The HSE also said a consultant obstetrician met the family yesterday and apologised.
