Woman fell from hospital bed, fractured both hips

A woman who claimed there was a delay of 10 days in diagnosing a hip fracture after she had a fall in the Mater hospital, Dublin has settled her High Court action for €110,000.

Kathleen Duff’s senior counsel told the court she needed more complex surgery on her hip as a result. Ms Duff had a series of documented falls while in the Dublin hospital and fractured both hips and needed two separate hip-replacement surgeries.

Ms Duff (58), originally from north Dublin but now in a nursing home had, through her sister Julieanne Kershaw, sued the Mater hospital, Dublin in relation to her care in 2012 as she awaited transfer to a nursing home.

Ms Duff was admitted to the Mater hospital on May 11th, 2012 with epilepsy and strokes. It was claimed she suffered a series of falls and fractures while at the Mater.

Nursing entries recorded she fell out of her bed and was discovered on the floor on one occasion and also fell out of her chair on another occasion.

It was claimed there was alleged delay in diagnosing the fracture of the right hip and, in the meantime, Ms Duff was directed to engage in physiotherapy. It was claimed she was directed to be walked as much as possible.

The claims were denied.

John Healy SC, instructed by Grace Murphy solicitor, for Ms Duff, said she had made a good recovery from her hip-replacement operations. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Kevin Cross wished Ms Duff well.