The Health Service Executive has established a high level Review Group to review the deaths of children in the care of the state since 2000. The Terms of Reference are as follows:
To review reports of the deaths of children in the care of the state since 2000 to:
Identify key messages of the reports.
To identify learning from each report.
To identify key themes or issues common to the reports.
To make recommendations to the HSE National Director in relation to the above.
I understand from the HSE that there are 20 cases in all. Of these, 9 deaths were either accidental or related to complications arising from an existing medical condition or due to a terminal illness. Of the remaining 11, four investigations are still ongoing. Once these investigations are complete and the reports made available to the Review Group, a comprehensive report will finalised.