Death of man after surgery at Derry hospital ‘was avoidable', says coroner
The death of a Co Tyrone man after surgery at Altnagelvin Hospital was 'avoidable', a coroner has found.
John McHugh (66), from Castlederg, died at the Derry city hospital on August 3rd, 2019, after an operation to remove a tumour from his tongue.
Advertisement
He was the brother of Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA Maoliosa McHugh, who attended the hearing at Belfast Coroner's Court on Thursday morning, and said outside court that he wanted to help prevent any other families from going through the same experience.
An inquest into John McHugh's death, which heard evidence from doctors who treated him and expert witnesses, was told the operation came after he found a lump on his tongue and went to see his GP.
Maoliosa McHugh (left) leaving Laganside Courts in Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA
It also heard from his son Sean, who paid tribute to his father, who had worked for Transport for London before his retirement, and in recent years had been travelling with his partner to Florida, London and across Ireland.
He said the father-of-three had a great love of sport and music, particularly following Manchester United and Tyrone, adding that he had been his best friend.
Advertisement
The inquest heard that a decision was taken by specialists to operate to remove the lump on Mr McHugh's tongue, and he underwent surgery at Altnagelvin Hospital.
He died on August 3rd, 2019, after experiencing issues with secretions and swelling of his mouth.
Western Health and Social Care Trust initiated a serious incident investigation after his death.
During the inquest, experts in cancer care called into question some aspects of Mr McHugh's treatment, including the scale of the operation for the size of the tumour.
Advertisement
There were also questions over whether a tracheostomy tube had been removed too soon.
Delivering her findings, coroner Maria Dougan said she found that on the balance of probabilities his death had been avoidable, and there had been a number of missed opportunities in his post-surgery treatment.
Ireland
Gerry Adams defamation case 'a cynical attempt to...
Read More
She said that if less invasive surgery had taken place, and had the tracheostomy remained in situ until the secretions lessened, the death may have been avoided.
Ms Dougan also found there were 'missed opportunities' in his care and treatment.
Advertisement
'I find that it would have been prudent to leave the tracheostomy in place for another couple of days to allow for continued swelling, suctioning of secretions and continued protection of the airway,' she said, adding that the trust's guidance had not been adhered to.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Belfast Trust: Questions over cost of muscular dystrophy drug
Questions are being asked over why Belfast Trust is quoting ten times the amount of money to treat young muscular dystrophy sufferers with a new drug as a trust in issue was raised in the House of Commons by Chris McDonald, MP for Stockton North, who is concerned patients across the UK are facing a "postcode lottery".The drug, Givinostat, has been approved as safe for use, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is due to make a decision on whether to recommend it for use on the NHS later this drug manufacturers offering it for free, Belfast Health Trust, NI's specialist centre for the condition, has so far declined to begin the treatment. The Belfast Trust has cited the need for "additional staffing resources" as the reason for not offering the drug. Some trusts in England, Scotland and Wales have already started offering treatment under an early access programme (EAP).Under a Freedom of Information request, Belfast Trust revealed it had estimated it would cost £309,000 annually to treat 13 patients with the new drug. That's more than £23,000 per a separate FOI request, the Oxford University Hospitals said they estimated the cost at £66,000 for 35 to 40 patients: just under £2,000 a head. 'It's like a bottle of Calpol' 12 year old Alfie Pentony from Newry has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is a life-limiting muscle wasting disease which affects will eventually need a wheelchair and there is currently no cure but this new drug Givinostat has been shown to keep patients on their feet for mother Colleen Pentony said she cannot understand how the Belfast Trust came to their cost estimate."It's ridiculous. To me, all they need is a nurse and a consultant."They take the medicine at home, I would administer it to Alfie in the morning and night at home. "It's a stable medicine, you don't even have to keep it refrigerated. It's like a bottle of Calpol." Mrs Pentony said the only additional resources needed would be to facilitate the blood tests the boys need, at first every two weeks, then every three said Belfast Trust had included a physiotherapist, play therapist and psychologist in the costings."These job roles should not be included in this costing. We are supposed to have a physiotherapist already, why would these boys need a play therapist, the boys are all over 6?""And any time in the past I asked for psychiatric help for Alfie, they refer me to CAHMS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services)", she added. Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Chris McDonald MP, said there should be consistency in approach across the UK."Currently the Belfast Trust is not offering this drug to lads in Northern Ireland because they're claiming it will cost £309,000," he said."That's an order of magnitude out with the rest of the UK so I'd be grateful if the Minister would look very carefully at the situation in NI." 'Cruel postcode lottery' A spokesperson for Belfast Trust apologised to patients, saying said it was "not in a position" to offer the spokesperson said a multi-disciplinary team approach is adopted for patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which includes physiotherapists, neurology, cardiology and respiratory specialists as well as endocrine asked why their costing was higher than Oxford University Hospitals Trust, a spokesperson said: "It is not possible for the Belfast Trust to comment on costs associated with service delivery within another organisation as individual providers will have different infrastructure and staffing levels in place."A statement from the charity Duchenne UK said patients in Northern Ireland are losing out to a "cruel postcode lottery"."The estimated cost that Belfast Trust has produced seems high and does not align with any other figures we have seen from other places."
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
I have bad knees. Do I really have to wear sneakers all the time?
I've had a torn meniscus in my right knee for eight years. My knee was OK for 47 years, and then I went on the easiest hike in recorded history and stepped up on a not-very-high ledge. That was it. It's not ideal. I can walk, but I can't run or sit cross legged. But whenever I'm about to bite the bullet on surgery, it seems like the wrong time to be sitting around for six weeks or longer. Or someone says: 'That surgery didn't work for me.' The time I got closest, I suddenly needed shoulder surgery, which seemed more pressing because reaching over your head is kind of important in day-to-day life. In middle age, it's hard to know which physical problem to deal with first. In the meantime, I'm having a massive style crisis about what shoes to wear. I've never been a serious heels person, but I do like wedges and I really love boots – especially the Frye harness boots I've had for 15 years. But every time I've asked a health professional which shoes are least hard on the knees, they say sneakers. I absolutely hate the way sneakers look on me. I feel instantly un-hot the moment I even look at a pair. There were more than 700,000 knee replacements last year in the US, at least the same number of meniscus repairs and about 400,000 ACL repairs. So I can only imagine others are struggling with the knowledge that they need sensible footwear. I texted my friend Lauren Sherman, a fashion journalist at Puck. Was there a shoe that was comfortable but not hideous? I whispered to myself, Please don't say sneakers. 'I assume just sneakers?' she responded. God, millennials really love sneakers. It's a sickness! What if I didn't want to wear sneakers everywhere? They look so bad with jeans (on me). And with dresses and skirts – sob. I would rather just not go anywhere ever again. The professionals were no help. 'You should aim for well-fitted, comfortable shoes so as to not affect your gait, how you walk, stand, move,' says Dr Cassandra Lee, professor of orthopaedic surgery at UC Davis School of Medicine. She cited a Stanford study where women wore a flat athletic shoe, a low heel and a higher heel. Guess which was the worst for your knees and which was the best? 'As much as we like the look of heels, there is a lot of evidence they do not love us back,' Lee said. The higher the heel, the more weight is pitched forward, the more your gait is changed, and your knee affected. She did not say 'sneakers'. But Theresa Marko, founder and owner of Marko Physical Therapy in Manhattan, did: 'I recommend a supportive sneaker, such as a running sneaker. These provide cushion and arch support, which help support the knee in a neutral alignment. They also help soften the forces that the foot transmits when it strikes the ground, which travel up towards the knee.' She added that every body is unique – if someone is experiencing pain, they should see a physical therapist to address their issues, develop a personalized treatment program and review what footwear might work best. I did not think running shoes worked best for me. They made me feel weird and wobbly. To my surprise, Marko acknowledged that running shoes can feel unstable. This is because of something called the heel drop, or how much lower the toes are than the heels in a given pair of shoes. I was glad to know this, even if the heel drop situation didn't seem to be my Waterloo. The reason I hate running shoes is they make me feel like I'm walking on stilts, or on stage. When my foot is separated from the earth by a thick piece of rubber and molded plastic, I feel like I'm perched above the earth, floating in the ether. Then my gait is off because I feel unmoored, and an off-gait is precisely what you're not supposed to have. 'The wrong shoes and [their effect on gait] can cause a slight torque in the knee, which could cause rubbing on the cartilage or improper tracking,' said Carrie Collins, founder of Stretch Chi, a stretching and movement studio in Chicago. This resonated with me! My boots felt comfortable, but they were definitely not snug around my foot like a sneaker or another less rigid shoe would be. I could not ignore that all the experts were suggesting sneakers. Well, fine. But if I had to wear sneakers, they could not have laces. Otherwise, I'd be too lazy to put them on. Sign up to Well Actually Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life after newsletter promotion After Googling 'most supportive slip-on shoes for women', I settled on a gray sneaker by a brand called Ryka. They are not sexy or cool at all, but there is something subtle and under-the-radar about them. The shape is also slightly aerodynamic, space-agey – at least they have some personality. I don't love them, but I don't hate them. I will admit that they are nice and snug around the top of my foot, and the entire bottom of my foot is supported. Yesterday, I had to walk thirty blocks and I wore them with a sundress and no one died. I have to say that wearing sneakers, despite being sad, is just the right thing to do. But what about when I absolutely cannot bring myself to wear them? Like a job interview or dinner anywhere other than Chipotle? 'If someone must wear a heeled shoe, I advise rubber bottoms and a very low heel – one to two inches,' said Marko. A round toe is better than a pointed one (more room in the shoe for your foot) and a block heel is better than, say, a stiletto, because there's more surface area to support your weight and distribute it more evenly over the bed of the shoe. She mentioned some brands. Unfortunately, I would not be caught dead in any of them. I called up Brandon Holley, who was my boss a long time ago when she was the editor of Lucky magazine, and I had two amazing, working knees. Holley, a consultant to fashion brands, had an ACL and meniscus repair in college, and sent over a few suggestions. One was a sneaker – LOL – and one was a loafer. Loafers are 'in' right now, but sadly, I look ridiculous in them. But two options stood out. One was a lace-up suede flat with a rubber bottom and a very low heel, the sort of thing you could wear to weddings, summer parties or a bar. It came in a pretty color, and had ties encircling the ankle, or, as Holley said, 'wrap-around sexiness'. The other was a slip-on sandal with a two-inch block heel. If I could wear sneakers 80% of the time, and an acceptable alternative 20% of the time, would that work? Like those people who eat mostly spinach, boneless chicken and blueberries, then have the occasional piece of chocolate, enormous sandwich or martini. Nope. If my meniscus tear is actively hurting me, I should not be wearing heels 'for any amount of time,' said Marko. If I had an old meniscus tear that had healed, maybe. But 'it really depends on the individual and their needs'. Sounds like it's sneakers for me. And maybe the next place I should wear them is an orthopedist's office. Sarah Miller writes for many publications, including Dirt and n+1. Her Substack is the Real Sarah Miller. She lives in Nevada City, California
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Instagram model Ngone Ndiaye dies after bum lift in Turkey having lost contact with family when she arrived for op
AN INSTAGRAM model has tragically died after getting Brazilian bum lift surgery in Turkey. Ngone Ndiaye sparked concern after her family lost contact with her when she travelled to the country for the dangerous procedure. 5 5 5 Her grieving mum confirmed that she was hoping to have surgery to fix a problem linked to a Brazilian Butt Lift, otherwise known as a BBL. A BBL is used to make the bum look bigger, rounded and lifted. Surgeons transfer fat, inject filler or insert silicone-filled implants. Ngone had nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram and was renowned for her fashion content online. In 2008 she was crowned Miss Pikine after she represented her home city of Pikine, Senegal, West Africa. She had worked with many local stylists and participated in various cultural events. Ngone lived in France before she died. After her remains were returned to Senegal, her grieving family and friends gathered to pay their final respects, local media reports. Many other young women have fallen ill or died from BBL surgery in Turkey. Demi Agoglia, 26, died from complications after a botched BBL in Turkey in January last year. 'Katie Price's BBL doctor nearly KILLED me' - Self-styled celeb 'beauty consultant' charging women £2k for ops exposed The mum-of-three tragically passed away in Turkey after a "barbaric" operation contributed to by neglect with "no proper pre-operative care and advice", a coroner warned. Demi travelled to Turkey for the operation after seeing celebrity endorsements for Istanbul-based Comfort Zone Surgery on social media. Similarly, Hayley Dowell, 38, died following a BBL in Turkey after the surgeon walked out halfway through the op, an inquest heard. She passed just hours later after suffering an embolism while recovering at the BHT Clinic in Istanbul. In August last year, Kaydell Brown, 38 died after paying £5,400 for the procedure, as well as a tummy tuck and a boob job. Brazilian butt-lifts, also known as buttock augmentation procedures, involve injecting fat or filler into the bum to shape it. But wrongly injecting too deep into the buttock can pump chemicals into the bloodstream and cause deadly clots, infections or sepsis. They can also go wrong if the anaesthetic is botched or people have an allergic reaction. What are the risks of getting surgery abroad? IT'S important to do your research if you're thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad. It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks. Safety standards in different countries may not be as high. No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad. If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment. Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK. Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems. Source: NHS 5 5
