Latest news with #healthcarefailures
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Royal Surrey County Hospital 'deeply sorry' after girl's death
A hospital boss has apologised "unreservedly" after the death of a 12-year-old girl which led a coroner to raise concerns about the "discrimination of disabled children".Rose Harfleet died at Royal Surrey County Hospital, in Guildford, on 30 January 2024, having attended its emergency department the day before with abdominal pain and coroner for Surrey, Karen Henderson, said in a recent report that there was a failure of the medical and nursing staff to appreciate Rose was clinically Stead, chief executive of Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, apologised to the family for the "failures in her care" and said she was "deeply sorry for their devastating experience". She added: "I appreciate that no words or actions can bring Rose back or reduce the grief felt by her loved ones."She said the trust had carried out a thorough investigation into the case, implemented several areas of learning and that practices would be further reviewed in light of the coroner's coroner said Rose, who from birth was diagnosed with mosaic trisomy 17 with global developmental delay, was "wholly reliant on her mother to advocate on her behalf".But she said at the hospital no history was taken from Rose's mother and that the severity of her signs and symptoms were said poor clinical decisions contributed to Rose's death."This gives rise to a concern that by not listening to parents or guardians as a matter of course leads to discrimination of disabled children," she added. 'Heartbreaking' Her report also raised concerns about a lack of national or local guidance to assist hospital staff to "appropriately manage patients such as Rose".Other bodies also sent the report were NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Care Quality Commission, the Royal College of Paediatrics and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM).President of the RCEM, Dr Adrian Boyle, said the report was "heartbreaking to read" but that it was "vital" to examine what happened, "learn from it, and do all we can to prevent anything similar happening in the future".He added: "Everyone at RCEM extends our deepest sympathies and condolences to Rose's family and friends." He said patients with learning disabilities – especially children – were a group at high risk of missed diagnosis and college had been working to raise awareness, and to improve the quality of care patients with learning disabilities received while in the emergency department, he added.A DHSC spokesperson said: "Our deepest sympathies are with Rose's family and friends."They added that parents' voices "must be heard when it comes to their children" and that under the NHS constitution parents have a right to be involved in the planning and decision-making around NHS spokesperson said it was "carefully considering" the coroner's report.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
HSE and National Screening Service apologies for failings to woman battling cervical cancer
The HSE and the National Screening Service has apologised for 'failings' to a young mother of two who is battling cervical cancer. The 38-year old hairdresser had sued over two cervical smear tests, one in 2016 and one in 2020, two years after the controversy around the screening programme broke and which it was claimed were incorrectly reported as negative. Advertisement The apology was read to the court as the young mother Leona Macken and her husband Alan from Artane, Dublin settled a High Court action against the HSE. The 38-year old mother from Artane, Co Dublin outside the Four Courts said it felt great to get an apology from the HSE and National Screening Service but after the Vicky Phelan case nobody expected this to happen. 'I am fighting this since 2023 . I started asking questions and Thank God I did. We are told to trust the process . Something is not working in the system. Something needs to be fixed. This was 2020 for me and it is still happening; It is not good enough,' she said. In the letter of apology from the chief executive of the National Screening Service Fiona Murphy it said on behalf of the Service and the HSE, it wished to apologise to Leona, and her family ' for the failings that have occurred and led to your diagnosis.' Advertisement It added: ' I wish to express our deep regret to you and your family and acknowledged the many challenges that you have faced as a result of your diagnosis.' It concluded: ' I appreciate that this has been a very difficult time for you and your family and I hope you find some solace with the resolution and conclusion of this process. I hope that this settlement will give you and your family some level of comfort, peace of mind and security.' Leona Macken's case before the High Court was fast tracked through the courts system because of the urgency of her diagnosis. Her counsel Jeremy Maher SC instructed by Cian O'Carroll solicitors told the court it was a truly tragic case. Counsel said it was their case because of failings in the CervicalCheck programme the two smears in 2016 and 2020 were incorrectly reported and Leona Macken was not diagnosed with cervical cancer until 2023. Advertisement He said Ms Macken has now a limited life expectancy and 'what should have been stopped in its tracks was not.' In the proceedings it was claimed that there was an alleged failure to correctly report or diagnose Ms Macken's smear samples in March 2016 and January 2020 and her cancer was allowed to develop and spread unidentified, unmonitored, and untreated until she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in May 2023. It was claimed that the smears taken in March 2016 and 2020 had been incorrectly reported as negative. It was further contended there was an alleged failure to have effective oversight of the CervicalCheck programme and a failure to have regard to the numbers of women developing cervical cancer despite a history of clear smear tests. Advertisement Noting the settlement Mr Justice Paul Coffey said he wished to acknowledge the plea from counsel that the lacuna identified in the Ruth Morrissey case by the Supreme Court be legally filled . This referred to what a husband can claim in such a case. The judge said there was a clear gap in the law. In the Ruth Morrissey case the Supreme Court upheld an appeal by a testing laboratory against damages awarded to her husband for services which would have been provided to the family by Mrs Morrissey were it not for her shortened life expectancy.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Gross failures' and 'neglect' played part in death of newborn baby
The death of a newborn baby girl was in part caused by "gross failures" in medical care and "neglect". A coroner said she was so concerned about the circumstances surrounding the death of Etta-Lili Stockwell-Parry in 2023 that she issued a Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report to the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB). Her mother Laura Stockwell-Parry was induced and Etta-Lili was born "in poor condition" on July 3, 2023,at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor having suffered oxygen starvation, according to a pathologist. She was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral but died there four days later on July 7. At a two day inquest in Cernarfon Kate Robertson, senior coroner for north west Wales, found that neglect was a contributory factor in the little baby's death. READ MORE: Council crews to search bins and hand £70 fines to rule-breakers READ MORE: Venomous snake bolts into sea from beneath paddleboard at popular Welsh beach Staff had failed to notice problems early enough and a subsequent investigation wasn't thorough enough, the coroner said. Neither a community midwife before the birth, nor maternity unit staff at Ysbyty Gwynedd noticed the baby had stopped growing at about 40 weeks, the hearing was told. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. North Wales Live reported that the health board said said "significant steps" had been taken to address the failures in this case, which it said was an "isolated incident". Mrs Robertson found cause of death was hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. She recorded a narrative conclusion at this week's inquest. In a Prevention of Futue Deaths report statement, issued after the inquest the coroner said there were "several gross failures" identified in Etta's mother's care. These failures resulted in opportunities not taken to deliver Etta before she became distressed. There were "many incidences of learning" relating to Etta's resuscitation at Ysbyty Gwynedd, she added. Mrs Robertson found: "There were several opportunities not taken by those caring for Etta's mother. "There were opportunities to identify concerns with Etta through her mother on the midwifery led unit on 2 July 2023 including properly conducting holistic assessments, properly completing partogram and manual palpation of maternal pulse which would also likely have resulted in earlier detection of distress and successful delivery. Etta's death was contributed to by neglect." The coroner also found that Mrs Stockwell-Parry ought to have been referred to the labour ward for close monitoring, but instead, she was induced and received only intermittent monitoring. Her pulse was not always taken and recorded and there was no recognition that Etta Lili's mother's pulse was being recorded as opposed to the fetal heart rate. Mrs Robertson also found the neonatal investigation was not thorough. The investigator neither obtained nor requested statements from the doctors directly involved in Etta's resuscitation, nor did they meet them to understand what had occurred. Mrs Robertson said she is concerned that staff not involved in the incident will not learn enough from events where there is inadequate sharing of learning from an incident. She issued the Prevention of Future Deaths report about her concerns. BCUHB has 56 days to respond with a timetable of how it will act on points raised. Angela Wood, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said "significant steps" have been taken to address the issues in this "isolated incident". She said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Mr and Mrs Stockwell-Parry following the tragic death of baby Etta. We recognise the profound impact this has had on the family, and we are truly sorry for the pain and loss they have endured. "Since this tragic event in July 2023, we have carried out a thorough review of the care provided and taken significant steps to ensure that the issues identified have been addressed. We are committed to learning from this and have implemented a range of measures to strengthen our training and clinical oversight to ensure the safest possible care for mothers and babies." She added: "We want to reassure expectant mothers and families in our care that this was an isolated incident. Providing safe, compassionate care is our highest priority, and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of care across our maternity services." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
BreakingNews.ie
20-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
CUH apologises for failings in care of man who died when air bubble formed
Cork University Hospital has apologised for the failings which led to an air bubble forming and causing the death of a man who was recovering from heart surgery. Father of three and grandfather of nine, Cornelius O'Connor of Farran, Co Cork, died after an IV line was taken from his neck, he turned blue, was in respiratory distress and fell unconscious within a space of minutes. Advertisement The family's counsel, Doireann O'Mahony BL, instructed by Seamus Hickey, solicitor, told the High Court the 84-year-old man had major surgery and was doing well, and his family were anxiously waiting for his discharge from hospital, but things took 'an unexpected turn for the worst". After dialysis, Counsel said a central IV line was rapidly taken out of Mr O'Connor's neck while he was sitting in an upright position, and he immediately turned blue. Five days later, Counsel said the family at a hospital meeting were advised that ventilation should be discontinued as Mr O'Connor was in kidney failure, and he died on November 24th, 2019. Ms O'Mahony told the court that the air bubble was a 'never event' which should not happen in any healthcare setting. Advertisement The apology from Cork University Hospital (CUH) was read to the court as Mr O'Connor's three children settled a High Court action against the HSE over his death. It said: 'We apologise unreservedly and sincerely for the failings which led to the occurrence of an air embolism which in turn caused your father's death. We do not underestimate the devastating impact of the passing of your father has had on your family.' The letter from interim hospital CEO Deirdre O'Keeffe said CUH is 'truly sorry for what has happened" and on behalf of CUH and staff, she expressed 'heartfelt sympathies and condolences to you on the death of your late father Cornelius". Mr O'Connor's children, Marie Hickey, Michelle Forrest and Con O'Connor, all from Co Cork, had sued the HSE over the death of their father. The terms of the settlement are confidential. Advertisement Counsel told the court the pensioner underwent surgery for an aortic aneurysm on September 22nd, 2019, at CUH. He had dialysis on October 12th, 2019, for kidney issues. She said Mr O'Connor was a very active man, who loved cycling and walking, and in the weeks before his surgery had climbed a mountain in Co Kerry. Mr O'Connor, she said, was a very big part of the local community and is very much missed. The CUH apology, she said, was a comfort to the family. In the proceedings, it was claimed that but for the occurrence of the air bubble, Mr O'Connor would not have died, but would have survived. It was further claimed there was an alleged failure to take any steps to minimise the risk of air embolism, and Mr O'Connor had been placed at a substantial risk of air embolism, which in fact occurred. It was further claimed that a preventable complication had been allowed to arise, which in turn led to Mr O'Connor's untimely death. Noting the settlement and approving the division of the €35,000 mental distress statutory payment, Mr Justice Paul Coffey conveyed his deepest sympathy to the family.
