Hospital apologises in court to family of woman who died of heart failure
High Court Reporters
A hospital has unreservedly apologised to the family of a woman who died of heart failure that the standard of care to her during two admissions to the hospital in the time before her death was not to the appropriate standard.
The apology from Letterkenny University Hospital to the family of pensioner May Craig was read out in the High Court as her family settled a High Court action over her death.
The family’s counsel, Doireann O’Mahony BL, told the court that the settlement is without an admission of liability, and the case was before the court for the division of the €35,000 statutory mental distress solatium payment only.
Counsel said it was a sad and tragic case where Mary Craig (76) from Raphoe, Co Donegal, a mother to seven and grandmother, had attended the Letterkenny hospital twice before her death.
She said it was their case that there were alleged “repeated failures” in relation to the hospital visits.
In a letter to the family, which was read to the court, the manager of Letterkenny University Hospital, Sean Murphy on behalf of the hospital, expressed sincere condolences and apologised for “the devastating loss of Mary.”
The letter stated: “I wish to apologise unreservedly that the standard of care delivered to Mary during her admission in May and June 2022 was not to the standard that we believe would be appropriate. I deeply regret the sorrow and distress that this has caused you.”
The letter continued: “I fully appreciate that nothing I nor the team here at Letterkenny University Hospital can say, in any way to make up for the tragic loss which you have experienced. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with you and your extended family.”
Craig’s daughter, Elaine Devenney of Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, had sued the HSE over the death of her mother.
In the proceedings it was claimed that in two admissions to Letterkenny University Hospital on May 19 and June 11, 2022, Mrs Craig was allegedly not properly or adequately investigated or treated . It was further claimed that on more than one occasion the opportunity to establish a correct diagnosis was allegedly missed and she was allegedly not appropriately treated as a result. The claims were denied.
The pensioner had been referred by her GP to Letterkenny University Hospital, complaining of light-headedness in May 2022.
She was reviewed in hospital and light-headedness and dizziness was noted. She had tests and was admitted to the hospital cardio care unit .
Craig had a permanent pacemaker inserted on May 20, 2022 and was discharged from hospital on May 23rd 2022.
Four days later, it was claimed Mrs Craig was referred by her GP again to the A&E department at Letterkenny University Hospital. She was reviewed by a doctor and it was noted she had no chest pain or palpitations, and it was claimed the impression was congestive cardiac failure.
It was claimed that Mrs Craig was seen by a junior doctor and pneumonia was diagnosed, and she was prescribed antibiotics and discharged.
It was further claimed that on June 11th 2022, an ambulance as called to Craig’s home and she was brought to the hospital, where she was admitted with acute decompensated heart failure.
It was claimed that no bed was available in the cardiac care unit. On June 12, Mrs Craig suffered a cardiac arrest but she was resuscitated and brought to the intensive care unit. She was declared dead later.
Noting the settlement and the division of the solatium Judge Paul Coffy conveyed his deepest sympathy to Mrs Craig’s family.
