A report, which was commissioned by former minister for health James Reilly, into infant deaths in a midlands hospital has sparked outrage.

The draft report by the Health Information and Quality Authority appears to place the blame on senior management within the HSE and has led to a furious row between HIQA and the HSE.

An investigation into infant deaths in the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaois between 2006 and 2012 asserts that changes within the health service, passivity among senior managers and unclear reporting relationships contributed to the problems within the hospital.

The HSE threatened legal action against HIQA during a meeting last Thursday between HSE staff and Department of Health officials, but have since lifted the threat on the condition that further parties are named in the controversial report.

As a result of this stipulation, the publication of the report, which was due to take place next week, has been delayed until next month.

Commenting on the dispute, a spokesman for the HSE asserted: "Hiqa and the HSE are now working in accordance with an agreed process to bring finality to the HSE’s input into the process of finalising the report.”

The investigation into maternity services within the Midlands Regional Hospital was triggered following  a Prime Time report on RTÉ.

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