Father, 59, died because of a three-day delay to surgery on broken hip
HSE apologises to family over ‘substandard care’
A FARMER died in hospital after he was left waiting for days to receive an operation on a broken hip.
Michael Feeney, 59, developing deep vein thrombosis which led to a heart attack after he spent one day in a wheelchair and another on a trolley at Cork University Hospital, the High Court heard.
The HSE yesterday apologised to Mr Feeney’s family for its ‘negligent and substandard care’.
The 59-year-old had injured himself in April 2014 while cutting fallen trees on his land in Coolagown, Fermoy, Co. Cork.
He was taken to the hospital where he was first kept waiting on a wheelchair, and then on a trolley on his second day.
Mr Feeney was told on that second day, Thursday, April 10, 2014, that he would not be operated on until the following Monday due to time constraints and unavailability of staff.
On the Friday, he was given a place on a ward and kept under review, but he was not properly managed or treated, and in particular was not given any anti-clotting drugs, the court heard.
His counsel, Dr John O’Mahony SC, said: ‘It was obvious that surgery was required, and it was hoped this would take place in a timely manner.
‘Unfortunately, while he was waiting for surgical intervention, he developed deep vein thrombosis which led to a pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrest. He died in hospital on April 12, three days after his admission.’
Dr O’Mahony said that the HSE did not dispute liability for Mr Feeney’s death.
He told the court that the case had been settled with his family for €95,000 plus costs.
Mr Feeney left a wife, Emily, a daughter, Amelia, two brothers, John and Thomas, and a sister, Ann, the court heard.
He had worked for Teagasc at Moorepark in Fermoy, Co. Cork, as an agriculture expert and was a farmer of dry stock.
Dr O’Mahony said a condition of the settlement was that an apology from the HSE be read in open court.
This stated: ‘Michael Feeney was admitted to Cork University Hospital on April 9, 2014, following an incident on his land in Fermoy, where he fell, injuring his leg.
‘The entire preventative measures that should have happened in the Accident and Emergency department did not occur in this case.
‘The HSE accepts that the care provided to the deceased in this case was negligent and substandard. The HSE apologises unreservedly to the family of the late Mr Feeney.’
It added: ‘Subsequent to his death, a system analysis review was performed, and recommendations were made in that regard which have been implemented.’
The case against the HSE had been taken on behalf of the family by John Feeney. He sought damages for the family’s loss, anguish, trauma and distress.
Speaking outside court, John Feeney said: ‘We miss our brother Michael, as he was in the best of health. We had looked forward to his being with us for many years to come.
‘We are so glad to have an apology, and hope that such a tragic thing can never happen again. We are glad that as a result of Michael’s death the recommendations that have been made will avoid such occurrences happening again.’
‘He was in the best of health’