Hospital changes care procedure after woman’s death

Consultants at a private hospital must ensure adequate cover in their absence after a patient died nine days after surgery to remove varicose veins.

Karen McCabe, aged 46, of Bewley Drive, Lucan, Co Dublin, underwent a procedure to remove varicose veins at the Bon Secours Hospital in Dublin on August 6, 2014. Her vascular surgeon, Austin Leahy went to his Kerry holiday home two days later. On August 15, Ms McCabe died due to a blood clot in the lung believed to have originated in the lower leg.

An inquest into her death heard she presented at Beaumont Hospital on August 14 and died the next day. She had contacted the Bon Secours three days before her death complaining of pain in her knee and difficulty walking.