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Inquiry into children's deaths set to begin Inquiry into children's deaths set to begin
(40 minutes later)
By Marie-Louise Connolly BBC Northern Ireland health correspondentBy Marie-Louise Connolly BBC Northern Ireland health correspondent
An inquiry into the deaths of five children in Northern Ireland while being treated in hospital is due to get under way later. An inquiry into the deaths of five children in Northern Ireland while being treated in hospital is getting under way.
The first death occurred almost 18 years ago and it is eight years since the inquiry was originally set up.The first death occurred almost 18 years ago and it is eight years since the inquiry was originally set up.
It has been hampered by a series of delays, but could be put back again.It has been hampered by a series of delays, but could be put back again.
An expert witness has questioned whether one of the children died of the condition under investigation, hyponatraemia.An expert witness has questioned whether one of the children died of the condition under investigation, hyponatraemia.
Hyponatraemia is a condition which results in a low level of sodium in the blood stream causing the brain cells to swell with too much water.Hyponatraemia is a condition which results in a low level of sodium in the blood stream causing the brain cells to swell with too much water.
In some cases this action can result in death.In some cases this action can result in death.
This has been an agonising wait for all the families involved.This has been an agonising wait for all the families involved.
The inquiry has been postponed several times including last November when the Belfast Health Trust revealed it had recovered documents which the inquiry team had originally been told had been destroyed.The inquiry has been postponed several times including last November when the Belfast Health Trust revealed it had recovered documents which the inquiry team had originally been told had been destroyed.
InvestigationInvestigation
One of the expert witnesses, Professor Fenella Kirkham, is questioning the verdict of the inquest into the death of Adam Strain who died 18 years ago.One of the expert witnesses, Professor Fenella Kirkham, is questioning the verdict of the inquest into the death of Adam Strain who died 18 years ago.
The five children involved in the investigation are Adam Strain, who died in 1995. Adam was four years old and died at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.The five children involved in the investigation are Adam Strain, who died in 1995. Adam was four years old and died at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Claire Roberts who was nine, died in 1996 also at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.Claire Roberts who was nine, died in 1996 also at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Lucy Crawford was a toddler and at 17 months also died at the Royal Belfast hospital for Sick Children.Lucy Crawford was a toddler and at 17 months also died at the Royal Belfast hospital for Sick Children.
Lucy died in 2000 and had been initially treated in the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen.Lucy died in 2000 and had been initially treated in the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen.
Raychel Ferguson was nine when she was brought to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in 2001 having been treated at Altnagelvin hospital.Raychel Ferguson was nine when she was brought to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in 2001 having been treated at Altnagelvin hospital.
Conor Mitchell was 15 when he died in 2003.Conor Mitchell was 15 when he died in 2003.
Conor was also cared for at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.Conor was also cared for at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Brain cells
He had been cared for in the weeks preceding his death at Craigavon area Hospital.He had been cared for in the weeks preceding his death at Craigavon area Hospital.
Brain cells
The inquiry into hyponatraemia-related deaths was established in 2004 and was primarily set up to investigate the deaths of Adam Strain, Claire Roberts and Raychel Ferguson.The inquiry into hyponatraemia-related deaths was established in 2004 and was primarily set up to investigate the deaths of Adam Strain, Claire Roberts and Raychel Ferguson.
The remit of the inquiry was later broadened to investigate events following the death of Lucy Crawford and also issues arising from the treatment of Conor Mitchell.The remit of the inquiry was later broadened to investigate events following the death of Lucy Crawford and also issues arising from the treatment of Conor Mitchell.
The latter will include an investigation into record-keeping with reference to the Department of Health and Social Service's guidelines on hyponatraemia that had been issued by the time of Conor's treatment, and their focus on proper fluid management.The latter will include an investigation into record-keeping with reference to the Department of Health and Social Service's guidelines on hyponatraemia that had been issued by the time of Conor's treatment, and their focus on proper fluid management.
The inquiry will also examine whether the fact that Conor was admitted to an adult ward rather than a children's ward was relevant to the issue of whether the guidelines were adhered to.The inquiry will also examine whether the fact that Conor was admitted to an adult ward rather than a children's ward was relevant to the issue of whether the guidelines were adhered to.
The inquiry, which is expected to end by November 2012, is to investigate the events which followed Lucy's death including the failure to identify the correct cause of death.The inquiry, which is expected to end by November 2012, is to investigate the events which followed Lucy's death including the failure to identify the correct cause of death.
LessonsLessons
It is also to examine the alleged Sperrin Lakeland cover-up of Lucy's death because it is argued that if her death had been recorded and reported properly in the Erne, Raychel Ferguson may not have died.It is also to examine the alleged Sperrin Lakeland cover-up of Lucy's death because it is argued that if her death had been recorded and reported properly in the Erne, Raychel Ferguson may not have died.
Solicitors representing Raychel's family argue that had lessons been learned from the way in which fluids were administered to Lucy, defective fluid management would not have occurred so soon afterwards, in fact 14 months later in Altnagelvin, a hospital within the same Western Health and Social Services Board area. Solicitors representing Raychel's family argue that had lessons been learned from the way in which fluids were administered to Lucy, defective fluid management would not have occurred so soon afterwards, 14 months later in Altnagelvin, a hospital within the same Western Health and Social Services Board area.
In this latest development, Professor Finella Kirkham, a paediatric neurologist, has raised doubts about whether Adam Strain actually died from hyponatraemia.In this latest development, Professor Finella Kirkham, a paediatric neurologist, has raised doubts about whether Adam Strain actually died from hyponatraemia.
Until now there had been consensus from all the expert witnesses but this latest report from Professor Kirkham changes that and will undoubtedly determine how the hearings will proceed.Until now there had been consensus from all the expert witnesses but this latest report from Professor Kirkham changes that and will undoubtedly determine how the hearings will proceed.
The chairman of the inquiry, John O'Hara QC, said on Friday that the development would have some knock-on effect on the inquiry timetable.The chairman of the inquiry, John O'Hara QC, said on Friday that the development would have some knock-on effect on the inquiry timetable.
However, he is hopeful that there is some built-in flexibility which will still allow completion by the end of November.However, he is hopeful that there is some built-in flexibility which will still allow completion by the end of November.
The inquiry was also suspended in 2005 to allow the PSNI to undertake investigations related to the three cases which it was initially examining.The inquiry was also suspended in 2005 to allow the PSNI to undertake investigations related to the three cases which it was initially examining.
In 2008, the police indicated that their investigations were complete and the Public Prosecution Service directed that there would be no prosecutions.In 2008, the police indicated that their investigations were complete and the Public Prosecution Service directed that there would be no prosecutions.
As a result, the inquiry announced the resumption of its work at a progress hearing on 30 May 2008.As a result, the inquiry announced the resumption of its work at a progress hearing on 30 May 2008.