Autopsy after patient dies during flu outbreak
Coroner Brendan Nix was notified last week of the death.
A spokeswoman for the HSE said they called in the coroner in accordance with “good practice” and in the event of further information on the death being sought.
St Ita’s caters for elderly people and has 95 patients at present. All admissions to the ward where the outbreak of flu occurred have been cancelled.
The HSE spokeswoman said yesterday the patient who died had other underlying health problems and was one of those affected by a recent outbreak of flu.
She said: “Twenty-three residents developed respiratory symptoms since the outbreak was declared. The first case occurred at the end of March and there have been no new cases since last Wednesday.
“There are 65 continuing care beds in St Ita’s Hospital, of which 51 occupants have had the vaccination. There are a further 27 beds for rehab and respite care in the facility, as these beds have a high turn over, many of those using them would be afforded the vaccine in other settings such as GP.”
Results of the postmortem, carried out at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, have not yet been completed.
