Report into patient’s 2006 death still not available

NEARLY four years on the HSE still won’t say if it will honour its promise to publish a report into the death of a psycho-geriatric patient at a Co Cork hospital.

The HSE is still saying it is considering legal advice on the report carried out by an independent investigation team into the death of the 75-year-old woman.

Last September, the HSE said it was considering legal advice on the report into Hannah Comber’s death at Heatherside Hospital, near Buttevant, in June 2006.

Stephen McMahon of the Irish Patients’ Association said he couldn’t understand why it was taking so long for the HSE to consider the legal advice.

He said it was “absolutely necessary” that the report be published so lessons on patient care could be learned from it.

“In light of another recent tragedy it is vitally important that there is transparency,” Mr McMahon said.

He was referring to the death last month of a female patient at another psychiatric hospital in Cork.

Deputy Sean Sherlock said he was also very concerned about the delay in publishing the report.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster had said Ms Comber slipped down the chair, causing the buckle to compress her neck. This caused her to die from choking.

The HSE had promised to publish the report “in the interests of her family, public confidence in their services, as well as openness and transparency”.

However, yesterday the HSE said “there is a legal obligation to ensure due process for all concerned and to ensure that the matter is addressed appropriately in the context of its duty of care to patients, staff and the public”.

It continued that the HSE is “considering the report and the legal advice obtained and it would, therefore, be premature to comment further at this stage”.

The HSE said it remains committed to bringing a satisfactory conclusion to this matter in the interests of all concerned “within the legal framework available to it”.