Inquest hears man who left hospital in pyjamas was probably being treated for sepsis and pneumonia

Mayo Coroner noted that Patrick Rowland met criteria used to determine if a patient is regarded as at risk of fleeing a hospital

The inquest into the death of Patrick Rowland, who had been a patient of Mayo University Hospital in January 2023, is continuing at Swinford Courthouse. Picture: Conor McKeown

A hospital patient who died after he walked out into a bitterly cold January night was likely being treated for sepsis as well as pneumonia, the inquest into his death has heard.

Patrick Rowland, aged 69, appeared to meet several criteria for being at risk of leaving the hospital but night nurses were not told, for example, that he had informed day staff he wished to leave.