Cancer patient died a day after being admitted to hospital with dehydration

A cancer patient who was admitted to Cavan General Hospital with dehydration died the next day after a “catalogue of errors”, the High Court has heard.

The HSE and Cavan General Hospital yesterday apologised to the family of Eileen Brady, a 65-year-old mother of five, for the failings on their part in her care and treatment.

Declan Buckley, for the HSE, read out a statement in court as Ms Brady’s family settled an action for damages.

“I apologise on behalf of Cavan General Hospital and the HSE for the failings on their part in the care and treatment of the late Eileen Brady which led to her untimely death,” he said.

“We apologise for the subsequent grief, hurt, and stress suffered by her immediate family and her friends, including her sons, daughter, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren.”

Ms Brady’s son Martin, of Togher, Crosskeys, Co Cavan, had on behalf of the Brady family, sued the HSE for mental distress and damage over the provision of hospital medical care to Ms Brady and her death in January 2010.

Bruce Antoniotti, for the family, told the court Ms Brady was suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy at a Dublin hospital.

She was referred by her GP to Cavan General Hospital with mouth ulcers and poor fluid intake to be treated for dehydration.

Mr Antoniotti said the treatment at the hospital was ineffective as her veins had collapsed. He said there were many things that could have done but her chart was not read, senior doctors were not sought on the matter, and there was no liaison with the Dublin hospital.

There was, Mr Antoniotti said, a “catalogue of errors” and Ms Brady suffered multi-organ failure.

He said Ms Brady had been admitted on January 5, 2010, and died the next day. Expert evidence would have said the dehydration was reversible, he added.