EIGHTEEN PEOPLE were on trolleys in the AE of a Dublin hospital the night a mother of three collapsed in a toilet and died while waiting for a bed at the hospital, a nurse manager told the inquest yesterday.
Beverley Seville-Doyle (39), Priory Walk, Manor Grove, Whitehall Road, Dublin, left her chair in the AE department of the Mater hospital shortly after 6am on January 15th, 2008, to use the toilet and collapsed there.
The inquest also heard evidence from the doctor who did the autopsy.
Dr Noel McEntaggart said he did not believe she died of a blood clot in her lungs (a pulmonary embolism). “I don’t believe it was a possibility,” he said.
Clinical nurse manager in the AE on the morning Ms Seville-Doyle died, Chris Roche, told the resumed inquest that 18 trolleys were in use on the night in question, with one reserved for the resuscitation room.
Six patients were on “care-flex” chairs including Ms Seville-Doyle, but Mr Roche said there were probably more chairs in use.
Ms Seville-Doyle, who had a history of type 1 diabetes, was seen by consultant nephrologist Dr Denise Sadlier for a scheduled visit to the outpatients department on January 14th where she complained of chest pain.
Dr Sadlier decided Ms Seville-Doyle, who had very high blood sugar levels and was experiencing vomiting, should be admitted as an inpatient.
As there was no bed available she was brought to AE where she underwent a number of routine lab investigations including a full blood count, renal profile, liver and blood profiles and cardiac enzymes. Her blood glucose levels were very high.
Ms Seville-Doyle was started on insulin to control her hyperglycaemia, as well as on IV fluids, and a saline drip and a protein pump inhibitor. “As there was no trolley available she was allocated a chair,” Mr Roche said.
The inquest has been adjourned until later this month.