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NWIHP Quality and Safety Conference 2026
The NWIHP Quality and Safety Conference 2026 was held in the Gibson Hotel, Dublin on 23 October. This year's conference focused on communication in maternity services and was opened by Dr Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health.
Dr Emily O’Connor presented work from her Féileacáin-funded ACHIEVE Project during the afternoon session. She discussed findings from her qualitative study which explored bereaved parents’ views on how parents could be more meaningfully involved in the perinatal death review process in Ireland with communication throughout the process emphasised. The ‘Why my baby died’ exhibition was available to view throughout the day, vividly illustrating parents’ experiences of maternity hospital perinatal death reviews. The exhibition – based on research led by Dr Änne Helps – was developed by the PLRG in collaboration with Amy Lauren, an illustrator based in Dublin, and funded by the Irish Hospice Foundation. Copies of the associated graphic narrative were also available for delegates to take away.
A range of other pregnancy loss information resources were showcased on the PLRG stand at the conference, including national information booklets developed in collaboration with NWIHP and the PLRG workplace resources and policy briefs. National clinical guidelines, including those on pregnancy loss, were also exhibited.
Many thanks to all involved at NWIHP in organising the conference and for the opportunity to share our work, in particular, Aideen Quigley (Quality and Safety Manager), Gary Shaw (Quality & Safety Officer), Davinia O’Donnell (General Manager) and Cormac McAdam (Communications Officer).
Photo gallery
Dr Emily O’Connor presenting on ‘Meaningful parent involvement in the perinatal death review process in Ireland’. Photo credit: NWIHP
The ‘Why my baby died’ exhibition at the NWIHP Conference. Photo credit: NWIHP
Marita Hennessy PhD discussing pregnancy loss information resources with Dr Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health. Photo credit: NWIHP
Marita Hennessy PhD and Dr Oana Marian at the Pregnancy Loss Research Group information stand at the NWIHP Conference
Showcasing the work of the National Clinical Guideline Programme in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nicolai Murphy (Programme Manager) and Professor Keelin O’Donoghue (Clinical Lead)