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Midwife suspended over two deaths Midwife suspended over two deaths
(about 4 hours later)
A midwife at Antrim Area Hospital has been suspended amid a police investigation into the deaths of two babies.A midwife at Antrim Area Hospital has been suspended amid a police investigation into the deaths of two babies.
An inquest heard allegations that Heather McComish wrongly interpreted the read-out of a heart monitor.An inquest heard allegations that Heather McComish wrongly interpreted the read-out of a heart monitor.
Matthew White of Steeple Road, Antrim died from brain damage five days after being born last November. An inquest into his death was adjourned on Monday. Matthew White of Steeple Road, Antrim, died from brain damage five days after being born last November. An inquest into his death was adjourned on Monday.
Four-day-old Paul O'Neill died a year earlier, also from a brain injury.Four-day-old Paul O'Neill died a year earlier, also from a brain injury.
An inquest into his death heard claims that the same midwife and other staff had not properly interpreted monitor readings. During Paul's inquest, the court heard claims that Mrs McComish wrongly interpreted the data from the heart monitor.
Ms McComish has more than 20 years experience as a midwife.Ms McComish has more than 20 years experience as a midwife.
Another midwife, who was present the day Matthew White was born, has also been suspended, again as a precautionary measure. She was not named during the inquest. Another midwife, who was present the day Matthew White was born, has also been suspended from duties. She was not named during his inquest.
It has been adjourned until the New Year pending the outcome of the police investigation.
A spokesperson for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust told the BBC: "Trust policy is that once a serious incident has occurred a full investigation is conducted and the necessary action taken."A spokesperson for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust told the BBC: "Trust policy is that once a serious incident has occurred a full investigation is conducted and the necessary action taken."
Breda Hughes of the Royal College of Midwives said: "By the time the process has run its course, we will all have learned very salutatory and painful lessons, in terms of critical incident analysis, in terms of debriefing of staff after any sort of critical incident of this type." Breda Hughes of the Royal College of Midwives said: "No learning was identified after the first incident, no measures were put in place that might have gone some way to preventing the second incident.
She added: "No learning was identified after the first incident, no measures were put in place that might have gone some way to preventing the second incident. That's a very hard pill for all of us to swallow." "That's a very hard pill for all of us to swallow."