Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I will take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

I extend my sincere sympathies to the family of the deceased at this most difficult time. The Department of Health and Children has been in contact with the Health Service Executive about this case. The HSE has advised that when it became aware of the death of the person concerned, it sought and received an immediate briefing from the hospital on the circumstances of her death and the management of her care in the accident and emergency department. It is understood that she died while awaiting admission from the accident and emergency department.

The HSE has advised that the medical staff who attended to the deceased, along with the hospital's patient representative, met her next of kin to discuss the circumstances of her death. In accordance with the Coroners Act, the hospital reported the matter to the coroner whose findings are awaited. A coroner's post mortem was undertaken to establish the cause of death.

The Department is advised that the HSE and the hospital concerned will be guided by the coroner's deliberations and any recommendations made. This will inform the HSE's decision on any requirement for further action. In the interim, the hospital is carrying out a risk assessment in line with normal procedures. The hospital has assured the HSE it is anxious to provide whatever support the family considers appropriate in dealing with this difficult loss. The Deputy will appreciate it would be inappropriate to comment on the specific circumstances of the case at this time.

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