Homebirth service has been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation.

A woman has tragically died in Limerick after giving birth at home. The incident has prompted the suspension of the homebirth service across the Mid-West. The woman passed away on 5 June after giving birth to a healthy baby boy, as reported by The Irish Examiner.  The family has been informed that an investigation is under way and homebirth service will remain suspended pending the outcome of that investigation. This means that any women registered to have a homebirth in the Mid-West cannot go ahead as planned. In a statement, a spokesperson for the UL Hospital Group said: “We can confirm that we have temporarily suspended the homebirth service in the Mid-West following a recent maternal death.

“The staff of UL Hospitals Group and of the homebirth service would like to extend profound sympathies to the family involved on their devastating loss.”

They said an external review of the service across Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary is under way. “A group of external experts, including those with midwifery and obstetrics expertise, is being assembled to conduct the review; looking at patient safety, clinical governance, and any other issues arising," the spokesperson said. "We have made contact with the small number of women in the region who were due to have home births in the coming months in relation to continuing their care." Homebirth and maternity communities have expressed concern at the decision.