THE SISTER of a wheelchair-bound woman who died six days after falling down a set of stairs at a Co Roscommon hospital has criticised the Health Service Executive’s handling of her case.
A multiple sclerosis sufferer who had survived a number of mini-strokes, Anne Macklin was admitted to Roscommon County Hospital on February 13th having suffered a “slight stroke”.
Two days later, on Monday, February 15th, she fell down stairs in her wheelchair. Ms Macklin, who was in her early 50s, passed away at the hospital on Sunday, February 21st.
Her family was “very bitter” over the matter and would continue to seek answers regarding the circumstances surrounding her death, her sister Bríd Moore said yesterday.
While the nursing staff at the hospital were supportive of the family, Ms Moore said that there was “no apology” or explanation from hospital management.
“All I got was a phone call to say that Anne had an accident. She was wheelchair-bound and she fell down some stairs,” her sister explained.
On arrival at the hospital immediately after the accident, Ms Moore discovered that her sister had been sedated because she was very distressed.
Ms Macklin had six stitches where she had bumped her head, a fractured eye socket and bruising visible on her right side, her sister recalled.
She said that the injuries had led to complications with her breathing and she subsequently contracted pneumonia.
“Because of her injuries she couldn’t inflate her ribs,” explained Ms Moore.
Describing her sister as a happy woman, Ms Moore said: “She didn’t deserve to go that way.
“She had her problems but we might have had her a bit longer,” she added.
Ms Moore claimed that the hospital was not eager to conduct a postmortem on her sister. “We requested it, they were not in favour.”
Upon further urging from the family, “there was a postmortem but we won’t get any results until about six months,” added Ms Moore.
Gardaí in Roscommon confirmed yesterday that an escort was provided for Ms Macklin’s remains to be taken to Galway for the postmortem. These results are not yet available.
Ms Macklin was buried after funeral Mass at the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd at Four Roads in Co Roscommon last week.
A HSE spokeswoman said: “The HSE is currently examining the circumstances surrounding the death of a person involved with one of our disability services in Co Roscommon.
“A preliminary review of the known facts is ongoing and we are awaiting certain medical reports. It will not be possible to comment further until that initial examination is completed.”
Ms Moore said her family would be seeking legal advice.
“She was only buried on Thursday so I haven’t done anything yet.
“I wanted to calm down and get myself together,” she said.