The Coombe Hospital has apologised to the parents of a baby girl who died a day after she was born.
In a letter read to the High Court the hospital apologised for the failings in care during and after the birth of baby Ruby Holland on 21 July 2016.
The apology was read as part of a settlement of an action taken by Ciara and Glenn Holland from Aylesbury, Tallaght in Dublin who had sued for nervous shock after their baby girl died.
In their action, it was claimed there was negligence and breach of duty in the treatment of Mrs Holland and her daughter during delivery and immediately afterwards, leading to the death of baby Ruby.
The court was told there was a failure to appreciate the mother's blood pressure had dropped markedly after the administration of an epidural top-up and the condition of the baby prior to delivery along with a small placental abruption.
It was also claimed there was a delay in intubating the baby and a failure to provide effective ventilation during at least three of the first four minutes of her life.
Ruby was delivered at 5.17am by forceps delivery and she was later transferred to the neonatal unit where active cooling treatment took place.
Senior Counsel Patrick Treacy told the court that the case had been settled and it was before the court for the division of the statutory mental distress payment.
He said had the case gone to a hearing an expert for the plaintiff would say that the quality of foetal and maternal monitoring was substandard.
The court was told that a review of the case had previously acknowledged the family's pain and suffering but not any deficiencies in the baby's care.
Mr Treacy said this had "significantly exacerbated" the couple's trauma and suffering.
He said it was extremely important for the Hollands to get to the root of the tragedy and he could not overstate the importance to the couple that the tragedy of Ruby's loss had been acknowledged and that the hospital had recently admitted causation and liability.
In a letter read to the court Professor Michael O'Connell offered on behalf of the hospital "heartfelt and unreserved apologies" for failings in care on the day of Ruby’s birth on 21 July 2016.
The letter added: "In particular I sincerely regret that the maternal blood pressure was not adequately monitored between 4.15am and 4.46am that day."
Referring to the Adverse Incident Review of the events surrounding Ruby’s birth, Prof O’Connell said it was not their intention to add to the Hollands' distress in any way.
"I was very sorry to learn that you were unhappy with the process and I sincerely regret that this is the case. I would like to reiterate my apologies for the distress suffered in respect of the tragic outcome and offer my deepest condolences to you and your family," the letter concluded.
Approving the division of the statutory award Mr Justice Paul Coffey there were very tragic facts and circumstances to the case and he offered his deepest sympathy to the Holland family.
