This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-42884446

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Hyponatraemia inquiry: Children's hospital deaths were avoidable Hyponatraemia inquiry: Children's hospital deaths were avoidable
(35 minutes later)
An inquiry into the deaths of five children in Northern Ireland's hospitals has found that four of them were avoidable.An inquiry into the deaths of five children in Northern Ireland's hospitals has found that four of them were avoidable.
The findings followed a 14-year inquiry into hyponatraemia-related deaths.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 damning report was heavily critical of the "self-regulating and unmonitored" health service.The damning report was heavily critical of the "self-regulating and unmonitored" health service.
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.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 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".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 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".
In his report, Mr Justice O'Hara found that:In his report, Mr Justice O'Hara found that:
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 "to tell patients and their families about major failures in care and to give a full and honest explanation".
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".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".
Marie Ferguson, the mother of Raychel, said that the inquiry was "confirmation of what we knew happened".Marie Ferguson, the mother of Raychel, said that the inquiry was "confirmation of what we knew happened".
"She went into hospital as a young, healthy girl and was neglected by the nurses, neglected by the doctors and, ultimately, died because of the negligence of those we consider health professionals.""She went into hospital as a young, healthy girl and was neglected by the nurses, neglected by the doctors and, ultimately, died because of the negligence of those we consider health professionals."
Ms Ferguson added that she had been devoted to finding the truth and "what I experienced during this journey is inexcusable".Ms Ferguson added that she had been devoted to finding the truth and "what I experienced during this journey is inexcusable".
"The trust and their lawyers abused their position by trying to cover up the truth. They robbed me of the most precious wee girl," she said.
"For hospital medical staff to make a mistake is forgivable, however, to orchestrate a cover-up and to deliberately mislead is totally unforgivable."
The family of Conor Mitchell said medical staff had "failed Conor so badly".
"The reticence with which the investigation has been handled by the trust and their advisers and the grudging way in which the limited acceptance of failings and minimal apology given were extracted, indicates a reluctance on their part to undertake the learning and the change in attitude needed to reduce the trauma caused in cases such as these," they said.
AnalysisAnalysis
by Marie-Louise Connolly, BBC News NI health correspondentby Marie-Louise Connolly, BBC News NI health correspondent
There was a real sense of regret, here, that for these five families, life should have been very, very different.There was a real sense of regret, here, that for these five families, life should have been very, very different.
The report spans three volumes of almost 700 pages and, while each case is treated separately, overall the chairman refers to a catalogue of failings, where in most cases shortcomings were evident from the outset.The report spans three volumes of almost 700 pages and, while each case is treated separately, overall the chairman refers to a catalogue of failings, where in most cases shortcomings were evident from the outset.
Sometimes with a great deal of emotion, Mr Justice O'Hara talked about the lack of professional candour, not just among clinicians but also by some managers.Sometimes with a great deal of emotion, Mr Justice O'Hara talked about the lack of professional candour, not just among clinicians but also by some managers.
There was a tremendous sense of grief and anger in the room. The mothers of Raychel Ferguson and Claire Roberts sat in the front row and sobbed throughout the chairman's findings.There was a tremendous sense of grief and anger in the room. The mothers of Raychel Ferguson and Claire Roberts sat in the front row and sobbed throughout the chairman's findings.
The inquiry has been dogged by repeated delays and adjournments.The inquiry has been dogged by repeated delays and adjournments.
The first witness was not called until April 2012 and it stopped taking evidence in November 2013.The first witness was not called until April 2012 and it stopped taking evidence in November 2013.
Mr Justice O'Hara was a senior barrister when the inquiry began and is now a High Court judge.Mr Justice O'Hara was a senior barrister when the inquiry began and is now a High Court judge.
A total of 106 doctors and other medical professionals gave evidence and 179 witnesses were called.A total of 106 doctors and other medical professionals gave evidence and 179 witnesses were called.
Fifty lawyers were involved, representing the inquiry, the families and the health trusts.Fifty lawyers were involved, representing the inquiry, the families and the health trusts.
Initial reports suggest the inquiry cost £13.5m, but that figure is expected to rise.Initial reports suggest the inquiry cost £13.5m, but that figure is expected to rise.