HSE apologises for death of cancer patient Sharon McEneaney

The Health Service Executive has apologised unreservedly to the family of a 31-year-old woman who died at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda after her cancer went undiagnosed for nine months.

The apology to the family of Sharon McEneaney was read out in the High Court this morning when the case was settled before Ms Justice Mary Irvine.

Ms McEneaney, a crèche manager from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, had a cancerous tumour in her abdomen and died in April 2009.

She first went to the Co Louth hospital’s emergency department in October 2007, with abdominal pain.

She was only given a biopsy after the intervention of former TD Dr Rory O’Hanlon in late June 2008.

"I know the loss of a loved one is extremely hard for the family," Margaret Swords, general manager of the Louth/Meath Hospital Group, said in the written apology read in court.

“However, the loss of Sharon in the circumstances as we now know them to be is even more painful.”

“As a hospital and an organisation, we fully accept that we failed Sharon but from our progress in making the changes required you will see we are making the hospital safe for all our patients.”

The court heard that of 38 recommendations made in a HSE report into Ms McEneaney’s death, six remain to be implemented.

Ms Justice Irvine commended the McEneaney family for their “courage and tenacity” in participating in the inquiry and ensuring the changes in the hospital were effected and improvements made.

“You have shown marvellous fortitude in the face of such a loss,” she commented.

The court agreed a settlement of €62,500, of which €10,000 will go to pay for funeral and other expenses, €27,100 will be paid to Ms McEneaney’s mother Jane and the rest will be shared by her four siblings.

Liam Reidy SC, for the family, said they were satisfied with the apology tendered and with the terms of the settlement.

In January 2012, Dr Etop Samson Akpan was found guilty of poor professional performance in respect of the case by a Medical Council fitness-to-practise committee.

Independent patient advocate Jim Reilly welcomed the ruling and called on the hospital to implement the six remaining recommendations that have yet to be implemented, five years after Ms McEneaney's death.