Call for services review after ambulance delay in getting to home

THE Dublin coroner has recommended that emergency services in the south-east be reviewed to ensure ambulances are properly directed to patients’ homes.

Dr Brian Farrell made the recommendation at Dublin Coroner’s Court on foot of the inquest into the death of five-year-old Áine Kennedy of Gorey, Co Wexford, after hearing evidence that a triage nurse had trouble directing the ambulance crew to her family’s rural home.

On the morning of April 26 last year, Áine woke up with a very high temperature. Her parents contacted Caredoc (the out of hours service in the south-east) and spoke with a triage nurse who called an ambulance. However, she had difficulty in locating the home and it was decided that the Kennedys would take Áine to Ferns to meet the ambulance. This was later changed to Gorey Ambulance Centre.

Áine, who had autism and a history of epilepsy, had been seizing throughout. She was brought to Wexford General Hospital where the seizures were brought under control, but then transferred to the intensive care unit in Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin as her condition deteriorated. She died the following day. Postmortem results showed that she had died as a result of multi-organ failure with clinical features suggestive of septicaemia.

The coroner delivered a narrative verdict outlining the facts. He will also write, without prejudice, to Caredoc, the ambulance services and other relevant authorities to recommend a review of emergency services arrangements particularly for people who are living in rural areas. The recommendation will also suggest allowing families to speak directly to ambulance control or the ambulance crew to give directions.

Speaking outside the court, Áine’s mother Caroline Kennedy said something needs to be done to improve the ambulance service.

“I know that resources are tight but when you make a 999 distress call or ring Caredoc, you are not ringing it for kicks. You know that you have a situation where your child is critical,” she said.

She also highlighted the absence of facilities at Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin to allow parents to stay with their children once they have passed away. Áine was taken to the chapel mortuary following her death but hospital procedure dictated that she be left alone overnight.

“We had to fight a solid half hour to stay with Áine. If we were refused I would have picked her up and taken her home. We slept on the chapel mortuary floor for two nights — we never left her side.”

Dr Farrell will also write to Our Lady’s Hospital to alert them to these concerns.

Áine’s death was the second time that tragedy has struck the Kennedy family. Five years ago another daughter Aoife, 6, was killed when she was hit by a car while crossing the road in Carnew, Co Wexford. The Kennedys, who have three other children, threw themselves into fundraising following Aoife’s death and have now redoubled that effort.

“We wanted to keep Aoife’s memory alive, but to do something to save another child’s life. I felt that Aoife was there saying ‘Mammy, you couldn’t save me, try to help somebody else’. We continue the work in the memory of the two girls.”