Hospital guidelines 'too late'
Grieving Derry mother Marie Ferguson last night described a decision by Altnagelvin Trust to discuss their policy of prescribing intravenous fluid to children as "too little too late."
The issue will be discussed next Thursday at a meeting of the Western Health & Social Care Trust Board to be held in Omagh.
Marie Ferguson's daughter Raychel died in 2001 after she underwent a routine appendix operation.The schoolgirl, known affectionately by her family as 'wee boots' because of her love of shoes, died as a result of the incorrect administration of fluids to counteract dehydration, cerebral oedema caused by hyponatraemia, which results from a shortage of sodium in the body.
Last month Marie learned that there will be no prosecutions in connection with the death of her daughter
"I welcome this discussion by the Trust but it should have been done years ago," Mrs Ferguson told the 'Journal.'
"If these policies had been discussed before now, my Raychel wouldn't be dead.If the hospitals had investigated the deaths of other children from hypnotraemia, then Raychel could have been saved.They've learned nothing."
Yesterday a spokesperson from Altnagelvin Hospital said: "Following the deaths of children in Northern Ireland related to hyponatraemia, Altnagelvin Trust put procedures in place to prevent such an incident occurring again.
"Altnagelvin was instrumental in developing guidelines in Northern Ireland for the safer administration of fluids in children.Following the formation of the Western Trust, a fluid policy was developed to ensure uniformity in documentation in all areas treating children.All Trust policies are ratified by Trust Board."
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Weather for Derry
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
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