A Coroner has strongly endorsed a call to provide emergency power back-up facilities for patients who have ventilators at home, even where there is only intermittent use of the equipment.
The Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, said that such was the importance of having auxiliary battery power available his office is to alert equipment manufacturers to the circumstances of the death of a Dublin man who suffered from muscular dystrophy.
Dr Farrell said he understood that ventilators were commonly used at home. He was commenting after hearing the testimony of Mrs Barbara Skelly from Clondalkin who said she "could do nothing" to save her husband, Tony, when he collapsed in their home last year. Because of an ESB power cut a ventilator in their home could not be used to assist his breathing.
Mr Skelly (37) had been discharged from hospital "to improve his quality of life" and provided with a mobile ventilator which he only needed at night. He was also given a suction machine to ease congestion in his chest associated with his condition. Both were powered by electricity and it was not considered necessary to provide battery back-up.
"It was felt that Tony was not totally dependent on a ventilator and that there was sufficient time to make alternative arrangements," Mrs Skelly said.
Within a week of his hospital discharge, however, Mr Skelly's condition worsened and she considered admitting him to hospital again. On October 12th last Mrs Skelly realised there was a power cut when alarm lights were showing on the ventilator, though it was not in use at the time. The inquest heard that a fully-extended "dipper truck" operated by Rilmount Developments nearby had struck a 10,000-volt power line, causing the power cut.
Despite her husband's assurances that he would be all right, he collapsed with breathing difficulties. Not only was Mrs Skelly unable to use the ventilator, but an ambulance team was also unable to use equipment it had on board.
"There was nothing I could do for him as there was no power to clear his airways."
The jury recorded death by misadventure and recommended that "auxiliary battery power be provided in all instances of a ventilator or suction machine in use at home - even where such equipment is only used intermittently".
