Consultant expresses 'concern' over lack of specialist radiologist

A Consultant Obstetrician has admitted it remains a major 'concern' for senior staff at Cavan General that a radiologist with a speciality in obstetric foetal medicine has not been appointed to the hospital, over two years after the issue was first raised.
'Yes it is a concern for us,' said Dr Azhar Syed, who also stated that the inability by the hospital to hire trained staff was also a barrier to them being able to roll-out a specialist 20-week scan, which has a far higher rate of identifying any anomolies in the womb.
Dr Syed was giving evidence on day three of the inquest into the death of baby Conor James Whelan, Drumora, Ballyjamesduff. He was delivered by emergency section on May 13, 2014, and died just 17 and a half hours later on May 14 'due to an adverse outcome'.
His death is one of five babies at the hospital since late 2012, the circumstances of which are under investigation, and the second in as many weeks in April-May 2014.
Conor's parents, Siobhan and Andrew Whelan have been present at the hearing throughout the week.
Dr Syed also admitted concerns after suspicions were raised on March 21, just weeks before baby Conor's birth, on of condition of low lying placenta. When asked by a member of the jury of 10 persons, he said: 'I was not aware. No.
It was pointed out too to Dr Syed by Roger Murray of Callan Tansey solicitors, representing the family, that in a scan carried out by him that in late 2013 found the placenta to the posterior of Mrs Whelan's womb. But that following a report based on a scan taken on March 21, 2014, the placenta was found to the anterior.
Asked when he learned of the results of the March 21 scan, Dr Syed had 'no recollection', but that he would have become aware of its contents at meeting with high level management at the hospital after baby Conor's death.
After baby Conor's birth, it was found that Mrs Whelan has progressed through term with a undiagnoised condition of bilobed placenta, a high risk outcome of which is Vasa Previa, which is being suggested as the potential cause of the infant's tragic death.
Evidence was also given by Dr Ann Katherine Leahy, Consultant Paediatrician.
She informed the inquest that the regular guideline in the resusitation of babies following delivery in critical condition is to apply up to four doses of adrenaline and monitor for 10 minutes with no brain activity. In baby Conor's case, staff involved in the infant's attempted resusitation applied six does of adrenaline and that hospital staff worked for over 20 minutes before a 'heartbeat' was achieved. A later scan after baby Conor was tranferred to the Rotunda in Dublin found 'no brain activity'.
Dr Leahy said medical staff they would 'never' normally consider working for so long on a case like that again, but 'we wanted to do everything we could'.
Contrary to guidelines she admitted that she was not present for baby COnor's delivery, nor was she informed of the circumstances of his critical condition prior to her arrival and assistance in the infant's attempted resusitation after his delivery.
When asked in cross examination, Dr Leahy said she does not find this acceptable, nor does she find acceptable that it took 85 minutes before blood transfusion was administered. 'I don't find that acceptable.'
She added that in the circumstances, a blood  transfusion should have been given 'sooner'.
She said in cross examination by Brian Foley that she did however not believe the delay in blood tranfusion caused baby Conor's death. 'I think the baby was dead at birth.'
The hearing continues.