Kerry hospital apologises for 'deficiencies in standard of care' of pensioner who died

Helen Fitzgerald’s daughters said it had been a six-year legal battle

Sisters Yvonne Knott (red coat) Maria Byrne (cream coat) and Alison Fitzgerald who settled an action against the HSE over the death of their mother Helen Fitzgerald in University Hospital Kerry. 'We want to tell other families to be vigilant and to question everything when they have a loved one in hospital.' Picture: Collins Courts

University Hospital Kerry has apologised in the High Court for the “deficiencies in the standard of care” provided to a 74-year-old woman who died there.

Mother and grandmother Helen Fitzgerald from Tralee, Co Kerry, had developed stomach pain on April 10, 2018, and later was found to have an infection and kidney failure, but it is claimed there was an alleged failure to bring her medical conditions under control or be treated in a timely manner.