Young man died after not being seen by specialist
Consultant never told to treat patient in hospital
No satisfactory system in place ‘I want to forgive all concerned’
A YOUNG man who went to hospital with suspected Crohn’s disease died after not being seen by the appropriate specialist for several days at Letterkenny General Hospital.
John Paul McCloskey, 26, from Hillhead, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, was admitted to Letterkenny General on October 11, 2016, complaining of vomiting and diarrhoea and was later transferred to Galway University Hospital, where he died from septic shock after suffering a perforated bowel. During surgery he suffered brain injuries and never recovered. He died six weeks after first going to hospital.
His inquest was told that after Mr McCloskey was admitted he was to be transferred to the care of a gastroenterologist.
The on-call consultant physician said she assumed this had taken place but in a statement presented to the inquest the gastroenterologist said he was never made aware of the case. He was going away to a conference two days later and was only made aware of the case when he came back several days later.
Galway County Coroner, Dr Ciarán McLoughlin said there seemed to be no satisfactory method in the hospital for a patient to be transferred safely and securely from the care of one consultant to the care of another.
Mr McCloskey was to be transferred to the care of a gastroenterologist for a possible bowel obstruction but there was a breakdown in communications and the condition of Mr McCloskey continued to deteriorate.
He underwent surgery on October 20 but his condition continued to deteriorate. He was unconscious and never regained consciousness. Mr McCloskey died on November 22 as a result of brain injuries following the perforation of his small bowel.
His mother said she was appalled by the way her son was treated after he was admitted. Angela McCloskey said John Paul did not receive the treatment he required when he was admitted to Letterkenny General Hospital
She said one of the final things her son said to her was: ‘I don’t know what’s happening to me, Mummy.
‘I wonder did our Lord suffer as much on the cross as I am suffering right now?’
‘I said to John I will see you tomorrow, he blanked me and stared at the wall.
‘He never spoke a word from that night until he died. He was a corpse,’ she said.
But Mrs McCloskey said she forgave all involved and just hoped that hospital systems would be put in place to ensure another family did not have to go through what they have endured.
‘I want to forgive all concerned. My poor John will now rest in peace now,’ she said.
Galway West coroner, Dr Ciarán McLoughlin, said that when a person is admitted to hospital the patient has a reasonable expectation that somebody will take overall charge of their care.
But said it was clear that in the case of Mr McCloskey that this did not happen.
An inquest into his death in Galway heard that he had been admitted to Letterkenny General Hospital on October 11, 2016, complaining of diarrhoea and vomiting.
He was to be transferred to the care of a gastroenterologist, but this did not happen and that doctor only became aware of it when he returned several days later.
By then Mr McCloskey’s condition deteriorated.
He underwent surgery but lost consciousness from septic shock after suffering a perforated bowel. He was placed on a ventilator and then transferred to Galway University Hospital where he died on 22 November.
‘I didn’t know if it was necessary for him to go to Galway. But we were all together when he died. It was a blessing in disguise,’ added Mrs McCloskey.
Coroner Dr McLoughlin, after hearing evidence at the day-long inquest in Galway, said there had been a systems failure in hospital.
‘Having listened to the evidence all day it is reasonable to ensure public have confidence that patients, when admitted to hospital, have a nominated consultant.
‘They have overall responsibility over treatment of the patient, and to ensure any consultant requested, if they have input, it should be documented.
‘The old-type ward sister, she had control of the ward and she surveyed it. She would have ensured a patient was seen by consultant and patient would know their consultant.
‘Under the modern system that is delegated to a number of people – or no one at all.
‘There needs to be someone in charge,’ said Dr McLoughlin.
He said that the deceased had difficulties in his life but should have expected to be treated when he presented at hospital.
‘John Paul McCloskey was 26 years old when he died.
‘The much-loved son and brother, he was as his mother said a young boy and man who struggled as life wasn’t kind on occasion, the coroner said.
‘He suffered from dyslexia and didn’t perform academically, he didn’t do exams and didn’t hold down a job.
Dr McLoughlin, who extended his sympathy to the family of Mr McCloskey, said he died as a result of a systems failure and that this was a result of medical misadventure.