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Hyponatraemia inquiry: Children's hospital death 'were avoidable' Hyponatraemia inquiry: Children's hospital deaths were avoidable
(35 minutes later)
Medical professionals must put the public interest before their own, the chairman of an inquiry into the deaths of five children in Northern Ireland's hospitals has said. An inquiry into the deaths of five children in Northern Ireland's hospitals has found that four of them were avoidable.
The 14-year inquiry into hyponatraemia-related deaths was set up to examine the deaths of the children. The findings followed a 14-year inquiry into hyponatraemia-related deaths
Hyponatraemia is a medical condition that occurs when there is a shortage of sodium in the bloodstream.Hyponatraemia is a medical condition that occurs when there is a shortage of sodium in the bloodstream.
The inquiry found the deaths of four of the five children was "avoidable". The damning report was heavily critical of the "self-regulating and unmonitored" health service.
Mr Justice O'Hara, the inquiry's chair, found that the health service was "largely self-regulating and unmonitored". Mr Justice O'Hara was scathing of how the families were treated in the aftermath of the deaths and also of the evidence given to the inquiry by medical professionals.
He said that "doctors and managers cannot be relied on to do the right thing at the right time" and that they had to put the public interest before their own reputation.
He also said that some witnesses to the inquiry "had to have the truth dragged out of them".
The inquiry was set up in 2004 to investigate the deaths of Adam Strain, Claire Roberts, Raychel Ferguson, Lucy Crawford and Conor Mitchell.
The chairman said that the deaths of Adam Strain, Claire Roberts and Raychel Ferguson were the result of "negligent care".The chairman said that the deaths of Adam Strain, Claire Roberts and Raychel Ferguson were the result of "negligent care".
The inquiry also looked at the aftermath of Lucy Crawford's death and concluded that her parents "were not told the truth" about what happened. In his report, Mr Justice O'Hara found that:
Mr Justice O'Hara also found that guidance issued in the aftermath of Raychel's death "wasn't followed" in the death of Conor Mitchell in 2003.
In total, the inquiry made 96 recommendations including the establishment of a duty of candour on medical professionals "that would impose a duty to tell patients and their families about major failures in care and to give a full and honest explanation".In total, the inquiry made 96 recommendations including the establishment of a duty of candour on medical professionals "that would impose a duty to tell patients and their families about major failures in care and to give a full and honest explanation".
Mr Justice O'Hara said that the "reticence of some clinicians and healthcare professionals to concede error or identify underperformance or colleagues was frustrating and depressing". Mr Justice O'Hara added that the "reticence of some clinicians and healthcare professionals to concede error or identify underperformance or colleagues was frustrating and depressing".
More to follow.