The Health Service Executive has issued an unreserved apology to the family of a 16-year-old girl over what were described as “failures” that should never have occurred and ultimately contributed to her death at University Hospital Limerick.
A formal inquest has begun into the passing of Niamh McNally, from Bruff in Co Limerick, who died unexpectedly in the emergency department in January 2024 after being brought in with acute breathing problems, reports RTE.
Ms McNally’s mother Carolyn, along with her grandfather Clem, her uncle Pete and her closest friend, Naomi Cleary-Graham, are present at the hearing in Limerick Coroner’s Court in Kilmallock.
Proceedings opened with an apology delivered on behalf of the HSE Midwest, expressing deepest sympathies and acknowledging that these “failings” ought never to have occurred, reports RTE.
“The circumstances surrounding Niamh’s passing are a source of immense sorrow for us, and we sincerely regret the opportunities that were missed to intervene. We accept that these failings, which ultimately led to Niamh’s tragic death, should not have happened. On behalf of the management and staff of the University Hospital, we wish to apologise unreservedly for these failings”, reports RTE.
The HSE Midwest added that while nothing can reverse the profound loss endured by Niamh McNally’s family, it stressed: “We are committed to learning from this tragedy and to implement any necessary changes to prevent similar incidents in the future”, reports RTE.
Giving her testimony, Carolyn O’Neill became emotional several times as she recounted the traumatic moments before her daughter’s death, recalling when Niamh said to her: “Mammy, I can’t breathe.”
Niamh was her mother’s only child, and Carolyn, being widowed, shared an especially close connection with her daughter, reports RTE.
The inquest heard that Niamh was born with a congenital heart condition and underwent open-heart surgeries in early childhood. She also lived with scoliosis. Her mother stated she provided her medical records to staff at UHL’s emergency department when Niamh was admitted on 9 January.
Doctors diagnosed Niamh with a respiratory infection. She remained in hospital for two weeks, receiving antibiotics and physiotherapy, reports RTE.
During this period, she underwent various tests and scans, and on 19 January a bronchoscopy revealed a clot and a collapsed lung.
Niamh McNally was discharged on 23 January and informed she did not require further medication, reports RTE.
On 29 January, while Carolyn O’Neill was out doing a small grocery run, she phoned home to check on her daughter. Niamh struggled to speak, coughing up blood and phlegm.
Carolyn O’Neill contacted emergency services, and her daughter was taken to the emergency department at UHL, reports RTE.
Her condition worsened, and a doctor informed them he would move her into the resuscitation area.
Shortly afterwards, she was transferred to a trolley in a corridor, where she remained, reports RTE.
Niamh continued vomiting blood and gasping for air. Her mother held her upright on a trolley in an extremely crowded corridor, and the staff were so overwhelmed that it was difficult to find assistance.
Her mother said she watched her daughter choking before a doctor rushed over with an oxygen bag, and she tried to help deliver air to Niamh, reports RTE.
Niamh passed away from cardiac arrest only a few hours later.
The family’s solicitor, Damien Tansey, said they are haunted by the belief that whatever chance Niamh had of surviving, it would never have been realised while lying on a trolley in a corridor, reports RTE.
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