Cancer victim’s sacrifice ‘produced a lot of good’

THE husband of cancer victim Ann Moriarty said yesterday that his wife would be happy that the sacrifice she made has resulted in an improved health service and increased awareness around breast cancer.

Karl Henry was speaking yesterday after the High Court last Thursday approved a €110,000 settlement over the action against the HSE taken by Mr Henry and his son, Ciaran, over their claim that Ms Moriarty’s life was cut short due to alleged failures at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis to diagnose her breast cancer.

The HSE denied the claims and the settlement was without admission of liability.

Yesterday, Mr Henry described the last three years since Ms Moriarty, aged 54, died as “absolutely horrific.”

Mr Henry said that with the High Court settlement “I can have closure, because in a lot of ways, it has been a living nightmare.”

The Ennis-based civil servant said: “Ann would be very happy today with what I would regard as her tremendous sacrifice has produced a lot of good. Her sacrifice was not in vain and a lot of lessons have been learned over what occurred.”

The alleged misdiagnosis of Ms Moriarty and a second alleged misdiagnosis of late Kilrush woman, Edel Kelly, prompted an investigation by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) into services at Ennis General.

A number of services have been withdrawn from Ennis General since, including 24hr A&E and Mr Henry said that Ennis General “is now a safer and better hospital.”

Mr Henry said that he agrees with the broad thrust of the HSE strategy to remove services from smaller hospitals like Roscommon to larger hospitals, where there is a larger throughput of patients.

He said: “Broadly, I would agree with HIQA and we must accept what HIQA has to say.

“However, if there are not adequate resources in the bigger hospitals you are just transferring the problem and Limerick Regional hospital is struggling to cope.”

Mr Henry said that the circumstances surrounding Ann’s death “led to increased awareness around breast cancer. There was a substantial take-up for example, to the special phone line that was put in place after I went public.”

Mr Henry said: “Ann’s death exposed a lot of the shortcomings in the health service.

“Her sacrifice was an extension of what she was as she cared for people throughout her life.”

On going public three years ago, Mr Henry said: “I did what I had to do. I did it for Ann. It was never an option to stay quiet.”