The HSE said this week that women, who may be concerned about a diagnosis of miscarriage they received at a maternity hospital, should, in the first instance, contact the maternity hospital at which they received treatment. The women’s own hospitals are best placed to access their files and to deal appropriately with their concerns as swiftly as possible.

The following phonelines are now in place in each of the maternity facilities across the country.

South East and South

Waterford Regional Hospital, Dunmore Road, Waterford Tel: (051) 848000; St Luke’s General Hospital for Carlow/Kilkenny, Freshford Road, Kilkenny Tel: (056) 778 5000;

Wexford General Hospital, Newtown Road, Wexford Tel: (053) 91 53000; South Tipperary General Hospital, Western Road, Clonmel Tel: (052) 6177000; Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork Tel: (021) 492 0500

Kerry General Hospital, Tralee, Co. Kerry Tel: (066) 718 4000

The HSE has given guidance to all maternity services in relation to dealing with calls from concerned women to ensure that arrangements are in place to deal with any concerns arising from women about the diagnosis or treatment they received at the hospital.

To provide the assurance required the HSE has undertaken to identify cases over the past five years. Cases which are known to a hospital will be reviewed in addition to cases where a woman is now making contact with a hospital, relating to a case in the last 5 years.