Support group Patient Focus has described as 'profoundly depressing' the HSE's attempt to prevent the publication of the HIQA report into Portlaoise Hospital.
Leaked details of the report in the Irish Times claim that senior HSE officials did not visit the hospital – even after revelations on the Prime Time programme of a series of infant deaths in the maternity unit.
Patient Focus says it is “beyond belief” if the latest claims are accurate.
Spokesperson Catriona Molloy said they’re absolutely shocked, but at the same time we're not completely surprised because they wouldn't put up a helpline for the victims on the night the programme was aired and we stepped into the breach.
“So we kind of felt it was just something that the HSE really weren't interested at the time – and they needed to take time themselves to actually work out what happened, but weren't actually…believing to the families what they were saying” she added.
