A woman who died during an operation at Beaumont Hospital's national neurosurgery centre in Dublin after waiting three days for a bed did not die as a result of this delay, an inquest into her death heard yesterday.
Marion McCormack (50), from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, waited for three days in Cork Regional Hospital with a ruptured aneurysm before a bed became available in Beaumont in November 2004.
However, this delay in transfer from Cork to Dublin was not a factor in her death, Prof Ciarán Bolger from Beaumont Hospital told the inquest at Dublin Coroner's Court.
Members of Ms McCormack's family asked Prof Bolger why it had taken so long for a transfer from Cork to Beaumont. He told the inquest there weren't enough beds at the neurosurgery centre.
The operation was an attempt to save Ms McCormack's life, but during the procedure the aneurysm was again ruptured with fatal consequences, the court heard. Coroner Dr Brian Farrell returned a verdict of "medical misadventure".
Members of her family told the inquest that Ms McCormack was due to have an investigation in Beaumont, but the machine broke down and it could not be carried out until the following day.
Prof McCormack said he was unaware of the circumstances but this was quite possible since the neurosurgery centre's machinery was "outdated".
Ms McCormack died on November 6th, 2004, following secondary brain swelling as a result of a brain haemorrhage during an operation at Beaumont Hospital.