The family of a woman who died at the Mid Western Regional Hospital after a blockage in her breathing tube say they feel “thoroughly vindicated” by the result of an inquest into her death.
Helen Cleary (69), Foynes, Co Limerick, died on June 30th, 2010, 11 days after suffering a cardiac arrest and nearly two months after being admitted to the Limerick hospital.
Her family claim they were told by one doctor that a blockage in her tracheostomy or breathing tube caused their mother’s cardiac arrest. However the hospital claimed the cause was unclear.
Last night, following a two- day inquest into her death, coroner Dr Tony Casey recommended that patients with tracheostomy tubes be fitted with an apnoeic alarm in wards.
The coroner recorded a narrative verdict that Mrs Cleary a mother of five, died as a result of a hypoxic brain injury associated with the inner cannula tracheostomy tube being partially displaced and blocked with blood and sputum.
On behalf of the Cleary family, solicitor Roger Murray said: “The family are very pleased that the inquest is over. It has been a trying couple of days but they feel vindicated by the result.”
Mr Murray said civil proceedings would be brought.
Mrs Cleary was admitted to the Mid Western Regional Hospital on May 11th, 2010, with weight loss, swollen ankles and liver abnormality.
Coroner Dr Tony Casey was told that her health deteriorated following her admission and she fell into a coma.
Evidence was given of the presence of liver disease, pneumonia, CPM (a neurological disease caused by severe damage of nerve cells in the brain) and MRSA infections.
Mrs Cleary suffered a cardiac arrest on June 19th, 36 hours after she was discharged from the ICU onto a general ward. The inquest heard that her ventilator was turned off on June 22nd but she lived for eight more days.