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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Second death at Royal Victoria Hospital investigated | Second death at Royal Victoria Hospital investigated |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| By Marie-Louise Connolly BBC Northern Ireland health correspondent | By Marie-Louise Connolly BBC Northern Ireland health correspondent |
| Belfast Health Trust is investigating the case of a second patient who died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, the BBC understands. | Belfast Health Trust is investigating the case of a second patient who died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, the BBC understands. |
| Earlier the trust told the family of a man who died while on a trolley awaiting treatment at the hospital's A&E department that they accept something went terribly wrong. | Earlier the trust told the family of a man who died while on a trolley awaiting treatment at the hospital's A&E department that they accept something went terribly wrong. |
| The 77-year-old, who suffered from motor neurone disease, died on 6 March. | The 77-year-old, who suffered from motor neurone disease, died on 6 March. |
| His family met the trust's medical director this afternoon. | His family met the trust's medical director this afternoon. |
| An investigation is ongoing into what happened, but the family have said they are not satisfied it is independent. | An investigation is ongoing into what happened, but the family have said they are not satisfied it is independent. |
| They told the BBC many of their questions remain unanswered as the trust insists they have to wait until the investigation is over. | They told the BBC many of their questions remain unanswered as the trust insists they have to wait until the investigation is over. |
| As well as the investigation into the 77-year-old's death, the BBC understands it will also examine the death of a female patient in January. | As well as the investigation into the 77-year-old's death, the BBC understands it will also examine the death of a female patient in January. |
| She was in a ward when she died, not in the A&E department. | She was in a ward when she died, not in the A&E department. |
| The team will establish what happened in the lead-up to the two deaths, how care was delivered and the level of communication between staff. | The team will establish what happened in the lead-up to the two deaths, how care was delivered and the level of communication between staff. |
| The male patient had been waiting almost 24 hours in the A&E department. | The male patient had been waiting almost 24 hours in the A&E department. |
| The family of the 77-year-old want to remain anonymous and are being represented by SDLP assembly member John Dallat. | The family of the 77-year-old want to remain anonymous and are being represented by SDLP assembly member John Dallat. |
| Speaking of their concerns about the investigation, Mr Dallat said: "The independent inquiry's made up of people from different health trusts and people from health trusts tend to meet each, they know each other. | Speaking of their concerns about the investigation, Mr Dallat said: "The independent inquiry's made up of people from different health trusts and people from health trusts tend to meet each, they know each other. |
| "But again I was assured that this would in no way influence it." | "But again I was assured that this would in no way influence it." |
| He added: "The trust officials, including the chief executive, have apologised to the family and have accepted that 'it was a combination of failings' which led to the pensioner dying alone on a trolley in the A&E department of the RVH. | |
| "They also accepted that on reflection there should have been a post-mortem to establish the exact cause of death. | |
| "The family were also told that all senior doctors have been briefed and working schedules changed to focus on the radical changes which have been implemented. | |
| "No patient will ever spend more than 12 hours in a trolley wait." |