This article is from page 13 of the 2008-09-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
THE Minister for Health Mary Har- ney last night personally apologised to the family of Edel Kelly, over her misdiagnosis.
The 26-year-old mother-of-two from Kilrush died from cancer in June, having previously been misdi- agnosed at Ennis General Hospital.
Last week, her parents Una and John and partner Noel McGreene came out publicly to speak of their anger in relation to the Edel’s situa-
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In the wake of their revelations, an independent review of services at En- nis General Hospital was announced by Minister Harney.
The Kellys met with Ms Harney in Dublin last evening and were heart- ened by her words.
“She apologised profusely. The family was appreciative of the apol- ogy. She indicated the terms of ref- erence (of the independent review) would include an examination of Edel’s case,’ said solicitor for the
Kelly family, Eugene O’ Kelly.
She said the Minister said the in- ternal report into the hospital will be disposed of as soon as possible and this will be followed by the independ- ent review, within three months.
“She has promised three months,” said the solicitor.
Fears that the revelations and subsequent review would lead to a downgrading for the hospital were raised by the Kellys, but the minister allayed any such concerns and de- nied that this would happen.
Mr O’Kelly said that Ms Harney was very sympathetic in her apology during the hour-long meeting.
‘The parents have a wish to remove themselves from the limelight and deal with their grief now,” said Mr O’ Kelly.
He said the legal action taken by the Kelly family, against the HSE, will proceed. This had commenced by Edel, prior to her death, and her family has pledged to continue it in her memory.
Mr O’Kelly said that the Kellys
were disappointed with certain as- pects of the meeting with the head of the HSE Professor Brendan Drumm last week.
“While Professor Drumm _ was apologetic to them, he would not apologise for the misdiagnosis. He apologised for the delay in treatment. They were impressed by the sinceri- ty of the apology but they felt 1t could have gone a little further,” he said.
He said the family remain grief- stricken but are pleased that the cir- cumstances surrounding the tragic