A FOURTH family has spoken out about a delayed cancer diagnosis at Letterkenny University Hospital’s gynaecology department which is currently under review. The family of Annie Farrell from Buncrana have written a letter to Minister for Health, Simon Harris about their concerns about the care provided at the hospital and requested an investigation into the case. Speaking to the Donegal News yesterday Emily McClelland, daughter of Mrs Farrell said they want answers.
“We are hoping that we will be able to get some answers about what went wrong and what actually happened,” said Ms McClelland.
Annie Farrell passed away in 2010 which the family believe was due to a delayed cancer diagnosis. She was admitted to the hospital in November 2008 after suffering bleeding, and underwent extensive tests. She had had cancer of the uterus 31 years before and was successfully treated. The family said she was told there was nothing seriously wrong, and that a thickening of the lining of her womb was a side-effect of the previous treatment.
Although the bleeding continued the family said Mrs Farrell was not given any management plan and was never offered a hysterectomy. It was not until June 2009 after Mrs Farrell’s GP referred her for an MRI, which showed that she had advanced cancer of the womb.
The family always had concerns about the case and were prompted to seek answers after speaking with UK based consultant Dr Margaret MacMahon who first called for a review of gynae services at the hospital after her sister Carol died from cancer of the womb (uterus), a treatable condition that was missed because no tissue samples were taken.
Dr MacMahon, who has been contacted by a number of families, has claimed that up to twelve women have suffered delayed cancer diagnosis at the hospital. She has called on the HSE and Saolta review to ensure all these cases are examined.
“This is about recurrent major incidents, including totally avoidable deaths, in a peripheral unit that has not been managed or monitored appropriately,” said Dr MacMahon.
She said if lessons had been learned from earlier deaths, “later tragedies could have been avoided.” Families had told her they had been reluctant to complain “because we only have one hospital” and they did not want to be identified as “troublemakers”.
She added that the HSE needs to convene an open forum “as a gesture of goodwill” when the review is complete and the recommendations are known. She said families and patients affected by this need to be invited and apologies will need to be made.
Meanwhile Convoy woman Edel Peoples requested the HSE to review her mother’s case after she was diagnosed with stage four cancer 18 months after first presenting to the hospital. Ms Peoples told the Donegal News yesterday that she is still waiting to receive the draft report of the investigation which she was told she would have by Christmas or early in the New Year.
Saolta has previously said the review at the hospital will determine the current status of the quality and safety of Gynecological Clinical Services and recommendations will be made if necessary to improve the service. Members of the review team, Mr John Price, Consultant Obstetrician; Ms Anne Kelly (Retired Director of Nursing / Midwifery); and Mr Gareth Clifford, QPS Office, Acute Hospitals were due to visit the hospital last month to meet with relevant people.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)