Cork hospital healthcare assistant died after ingesting drug he took from needle bin

The changes introduced by the Mercy University Hospital in Cork were among the recommendations from an internal review that was ordered following the death last year of Richard Chisholm, a healthcare assistant at the hospital. File picture: Denis Scannell

A large hospital has reviewed its staff security procedures and tightened its drug disposal policies following the death of a staff member who removed a powerful drug from a needle bin and ingested it at home.

The changes introduced by the Mercy University Hospital in Cork were among the recommendations from an internal review that was ordered following the death last year of Richard Chisholm, aged 52, a healthcare assistant at the hospital, Cork City Coroner’s Court was told.