Death by choking unexplained 2 years on

THE report into the choking to death of a 75-year-old patient in a community hospital almost two years ago continues to be delayed.

An investigation team has not been able to interview a hospital staff member.

However, the HSE has outlined the reasons for the delay in concluding its independent investigation into the death of Hannah Comber.

The HSE made the statement in response to a Dáil question from David Stanton TD. He was concerned the investigation into the elderly patient’s death in June 2006 was taking so long to finalise.

Ms Comber died at Heatherside Hospital, near Buttevant, Co Cork, after she was asphyxiated by a restraining belt in a chair.

HSE officials said that with one exception, all hospital employees whom the independent investigating team wanted to talk to had been interviewed.

However, correspondence is ongoing with the remaining employee’s legal advisor and every attempt is being made to get the person interviewed.

The HSE said the independent investigation team is cognisant of the need to conclude the investigation, and it has had to obtain independent legal advice about finalising the report should that employee fail to be interviewed.

HSE officials said they are committed to publishing a report on Ms Comber’s death in the interests of her family, public confidence in their services, as well as openness and transparency.

The independent investigation commenced its work in August 2006. At that time a file was being prepared by the gardaí for the DPP and an inquest was pending.

Staff at the hospital took legal advice, which said they shouldn’t be interviewed by the investigation team until the inquest and DPP decision had been finalised.

The DPP later decided no charges would follow Ms Comber’s death.

The inquest heard that on the night the diagnosed schizophrenic died she had been put into a chair in the dayroom because she was restless. A restraining belt had been put around her and it’s believed that when she fell asleep she slipped down the chair and her neck was compressed by the buckle of the belt.

The inquest was told there was no written policy in the hospital on the use of restraint chairs, or for dealing with a sudden death.

The coroner directed the jury to record a verdict of misadventure, and added that he would be contacting Heatherside Hospital management with a list of recommendations.