Mother whose 12-year-old daughter died in Cork University Hospital says health system 'seriously failed'

A mother whose 12-year-old daughter died at Cork University Hospital has said the health system “seriously failed” her daughter.

“This is no way to run a health system,” she said as she called outside the Four Courts for the minister for health to ensure hospital patient safety managers investigate adverse outcomes in their hospitals “in a proper, fair, timely and impartial way without forcing people like me to go down the legal route to get the truth”.

LeslieAnn McGeough of Ballyvolane, Cork, asked if any lessons had been learned by her daughter, Abigail’s case.

She added: "My view is lessons will never be learnt if this system continues the way it is currently set up."

Earlier she told a judge in the High Court that her beautiful daughter Abigail was taken from her “for the simple reason that the doctors of both Cork University Hospital (CUH) and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, would not listen to me”. 

Abigail McGeough from Cork city who had cerebral palsy and spina bifida had a brain shunt inserted when she was three months old. Her mother broke down in tears as she told the court she had been warned to look out for shunt blockage or malfunction symptoms and any delay in shunt blockage treatment could be fatal.

“However on December 22, 2019, I knew that there was something wrong with the shunt and I brought Abi to CUH and asked them to check for shunt malfunction. They dismissed me,” she said.

“I asked for a second opinion and I was referred to Beaumont Hospital and attended there on December 27, 2019. Beaumont dismissed me as they seem to rely on what CUH had said.” 

In tears she told Mr Justice Paul Coffey: 

”Unfortunately my fears of shunt blockage turned out to be true because my darling Abi died on May 9, 2020.” 

The family’s counsel, Miriam Reilly SC instructed by Cantillons Solicitors, told the court that liability was admitted in the case which related to the misdiagnosis of symptoms relating to a brain shunt blockage despite the fact that the little girl presented to hospitals on five occasions between November 2019 and April 2020.

Outside the Four Courts, LeslieAnn McGeough spoke after she settled the action in which both Cork University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, in a letter read to the court expressed deepest condolences on the tragic death of the little girl known as Abi.

Ms McGeough said liability had not been admitted in the case until August last year, and it was only through taking the legal proceedings she was able to find out the truth about what caused Abi’s death.

She added: 

“This is no way to run a health system. The truth should always come out when adverse events occur, not for the purposes of punishing but rather to prevent such a further tragedy occurring again.

“Our family tree has been broken never to be repaired. Abi has missed out on so much in life including her much longed for cousins and her many hopes and plans for her future. Every day we grieve for Abi; we feel her loss every minute of every day and we will now always have a piece of us missing.” 

In a letter read to the court the CEOs of Cork University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital expressed deepest condolences on the tragic death of Abigail.

The letter said: “We are deeply sorry for the distress, suffering and loss you have endured and continue to endure since Abigail’s death. While the legal aspect is concluded we will reflect on the events of each of Abigail’s final attendances in our hospitals and work with the risk management teams to learn and improve our practice in every aspect warranted.” 

Approving the settlement, including the division of the statutory mental distress payment of €35,000, Mr Justice Coffey extended his deepest sympathy to Abigail’s mother and the extended family.