“We want the truth”
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Janet Brown who died shortly after giving birth in Antrim Area Hospital in September 2006.
THE brother of a young Magherafelt woman who died shortly after giving birth to her third child by caesarean section at Antrim Area Hospital has spoken to the Northern Constitution about the family's need for answers and his bitter disappointment that the inquest into his sister's tragic death has been adjourned until Tuesday, December 9.
The inquest into the death of Janet Brown (28), from Lisalbanagh Road was to take place in Belfast this week, expected to run from Monday, November 3 right through to Friday, November 7 but on the opening day, Monday, the inquest was adjourned by the coroner for further reports.
It will recommence on Tuesday, December 9 and is expected to run to December 19, with approximately 30 witnesses being called, according to a Coroner's office spokesperson.
The news comes as a devastating blow to Mrs Brown's family, "We are extremely disappointed, but what can you do?," commented Janet's brother Arnold Scott.
It has since been revealed that the inquest was adjourned because two midwives who cared for Mrs Brown after she gave birth were only made aware last month of the full content of all the expert investigations, some of which contain allegations against them.
Also, these midwives had only recently been told they would have to seek their own legal representation, separate from that of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (which has responsibility for the Antrim Area.)
Their lawyer told the court that they made the application for adjournment "with regret" to allow time for their own report into the case to be carried out with support from the Royal College of Midwives.
“The only thing we want out of the whole thing is the truth, that's all we've ever wanted, that's why it's crucial to us that the inquest go ahead and why we're crushed that it has been postponed till December," continued Arnold.
Arnold explained that the family would be using the time before the inquest recommenced to "regroup and rethink".
Janet died in September 2006 and was one of two young women to die in the Antrim Area Hospital shortly after childbirth which raised questions and resulted in investigations being carried out into the deaths.
Arnold says the family are desperate for answers as to how it is possible that two young women, his beloved younger sister Janet and another woman, Joanne Moore from Ballymena, both of whom already had other children, would die in a hospital that has been running for 14 years, has delivered more than 35,000 babies and is recognised as one of the top hospitals in the UK.
Another of Janet's brothers, Rennie Scott said that immediately after his sister's death the family were not angry or suspicious, it was only after they discovered that two investigations - one internal and one external - were to be carried out that their suspicions arose.
The family were shocked and outraged when the results of these investigations concluded that Janet had died from 'morphine intoxication'.
Unfortunately the morphine device Janet had used was disposed off after her death as at that time it would appear that no policy was in place for keeping such devices after sudden death, therefore it will never be known if the device was in actual fact faulty.
This is something which baffles and frustrates Mrs Brown's family, "I don't know how there could be no procedure in place to retain equipment, as far as I am aware there are policies in place in other Trusts. I can't believe that in this modern time there are no procedures like this in place in hospitals," commented Arnold.
Antrim Area Hospital described both deaths as "an absolute tragedy" adding, "we are deeply sorry for the suffering and distress these two families are experiencing."
Glenn Houston, Director of Women's and Children's services commented: "I think you'll find that nowhere in the reports do the independent experts say that the hospital has been negligent."
However, a report commissioned by Coroner John Leckey and carried out by a leading consultant concluded that: "Timely and appropriate intervention when a patient was drowsy and snoring could have prevented this death."
The family are extremely angry and upset at this, "Something as simple as somebody checking on her would have made a big, big difference if they had just gone at the right time," said Arnold.
Rennie also expressed his frustration at this saying: "First of all, coping with loss of Janet was bad enough, but now to know that it probably could have been prevented, that Janet had her whole life ahead of her."
Breedagh Hughes from the Royal College of Midwives has defended the work of the midwives in the Antrim Area Hospital, "the work demands on the midwifery staff within this maternity unit have been increasing. We are concerned that the care that we provide is constantly being stretched to cope with the increasing numbers of mothers and babies," she said.
Sinn Fein MLA for Mid Ulster Michelle O'Neill said she fully understands the family's need for answers and believes they should be provided with them: "These families still don't have the answers they deserve, I want the Minister to act immediately to help provide these."
The deaths of these two young women have gripped many, even prompting prominent investigative ITV programme 'Insight' to broadcast a show exploring them on Monday evening, November 3.
The programme raised many questions regarding the deaths of the two young women, questions that Janet Brown's family will now have to wait an extra month to hear the answers to.
