Elderly patient died after falling on pipes - inquest
An elderly patient received third degree burns after lying for hours on hot pipes in a hospital just days before his death, an inquest heard today.
A sister of Thomas Maher from New Road, Birr, Co Offaly, hit out at the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore, where the 61-year-old received injuries after wandering away from his bed.
The family called the hunt for Mr Maher “ludicrous” as it failed to locate him for around four hours. However, the hospital said it launched an intensive search for Mr Maher after he wandered off his ward on February 18, 2003.
His sister, Margaret Connolly, said: “We have to come to terms with the fact he simply lay there and baked.”
Ms Connolly said that earlier that night she had asked a nurse would she take him home as he appeared confused in the hospital.
“She told me that he was better off where he was, much to my regret I did not bring him home that night.”
She added: “This I have to live with for the rest of my life that I let my brother down.”
Several of the hospital nurses’ described an extensive search involving members of the civil defence and Mr Maher’s family.
However, Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard that around four hours passed before he was found lying on pipes – a floor below his ward, in a small room for the autoclave sterilisation machine for medical equipment.
Mr Maher, who received third degree burns over 15% of his body including his head, chest, neck, legs and groin area, died in the burns unit at St James’s Hospital in Dublin three days later on February 21, 2003.
Dr Fintan Garavan, who carried out the post mortem, found Mr Maher died as a result of his ongoing heart disease and coronary trouble, however, he said the stress of the burns could have aggravated it.
The doctor said someone of that age was more likely to die from the burns, compared to a middle-aged person.
He said: “He died from heart disease he was vulnerable to it but the fact he had sustained 15% burns, the stress may have contributed to it.”
The inquest heard that M Maher had been confused and unsteady on his feet the day he received the burns.
The nurses had spent time sitting with him as they said he was agitated.
Kathleen Garbey, a nursing night superintendent, described an extensive search, including checking the grounds of the hospital, wards, theatres, taxi services and public houses, from when he was reported missing around 9.30pm.
The nurses said they found Mr Maher after 1am in the autoclave room. The nurses said there was a small narrow doorway in the room, which was closed, but when they opened it they found him lying on hot pipes.
Ms Connolly said: “We find it hard to come to terms with the fact he was simply left there for hours.
“He couldn’t get away once he got down, he couldn’t move, he was helpless. This is our big problem. He had not a hope in hell of getting out of there,” she said.
His sister said it would have been a lot easier for them to cope with if he had been unconscious.
However, he was conscious as he was taken to casualty, as he spoke with a nurse and then recognised his niece.
Speaking afterwards, the family were also critical of the investigation into his death and said relations had not been interviewed despite being there on the night.
The coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.
