Probe continues into legionnaires’ disease death

A MAN whose wife died of legionnaires’ disease while in hospital has heard nothing from his health board almost six months after the tragedy.

Mother-of-seven Eana Kiely, 61, died at Waterford Regional Hospital on April 27. She contracted the disease while in hospital. The long-awaited report of an inquiry into her death remains unpublished.

Her husband, Dr Eamonn Kiely, said that other members of the family are getting anxious about the report, given the length of time the probe has taken.

The Department of Health and the South Eastern Health Board (SEHB) promised a speedy probe following the tragic death. They said yesterday that the report is at a final draft stage and will be going to its lawyers shortly. The SEHB said the report should be on the minister’s desk midway through next month.

“I have had no communication with the health board over the past six months.

Other members of my family are getting anxious about it,” said Dr Kiely.

“My solicitor has been in touch with them, asking that I get a copy of the report before it is published. To my knowledge, we’ve heard nothing back,” he said. An inquest is due to take place on November 4. But Dr Kiely believes it will be adjourned, pending the report.

“My information is that the coroner may defer the inquest, pending the publication of the report. My understanding is that it has to go to the Minister for Health first. We took it that it would take some time to carry out this investigation, but some members of my family are now getting anxious,” said Dr Kiely.

A spokesperson for the SEHB declined to comment on correspondence with the Kiely family.

T he devoted mother was in hospital for just over five weeks when she contracted the disease.

Experts believed at the time she contracted the pneumonia-like disease from a pressurised shower head in the en suite of her private hospital room.

Her death stunned her devoted husband, a GP in their local community of Kilmacthomas on the Kilkenny/Waterford border.

The SEHB launched an immediate investigation, chaired by Professor David Coleman, professor of microbiology at the School of Dental Science, Trinity College Dublin.

Health board chairman Séamus Ryan said any recommendations contained in the report will be acted upon.