The Death of Peter McKenna At Leas Cross Nursing Home: Open Letter To The HSE

by Terry Tue Dec 06, 2005 18:38

The Hynes report in full can be found on the HSE website. See the URL below

by eeekkk Wed Dec 07, 2005 03:16

EXTRACT:

"Sadly, in 2000, St Michael’s House did not have the facilities or resources to care for Mr McKenna, and other clients, with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. St Michael’s House had been lobbying for several years for resources to provide a specialised Alzheimer’s unit for its clients but unfortunately, this unit was not completed until 2002. It had been the hope and indeed the commitment of St Michael’s House to the family of Mr McKenna that he would have the first place in the new unit. St Michael’s House had been providing care to Mr McKenna for 23 years in what the family has described as a “superb” manner.

St Michael’s House genuinely believed that it was in Mr McKenna’s best interests and safety that he be transferred to Leas Cross as St Michael’s House did not have the nursing facilities to care for him. The proposal to transfer Mr McKenna to Leas Cross was made in good faith.

Leas Cross in October 2000 had 35 residents and was used extensively by the main hospitals and the Northern Area Health Board. St Michael’s House used Leas Cross on a regular basis between 1998 and 2000 for short-term and long-term breaks. An experienced senior social worker monitored the service on a monthly basis and St Michael’s House staff were in Leas Cross on a regular basis.

During discussions the family advised St Michael’s House that they were unhappy with the proposal to transfer Mr McKenna to Leas Cross and St Michael’s House offered to fully fund his care in any other nursing home of the family’s choosing.

The family also advised St Michael’s House that Mr McKenna was a Ward of Court. Consequently the decision with regard to the future care of Mr McKenna was not that of either the family or St Michael’s House. The President of the High Court appointed an independent ‘Medical Visitor’, a consultant psychiatrist with extensive experience in the provision of services to people with a learning disability. The ‘Medical Visitor’ concluded that St Michael’s House did not have a long-stay facility suitable to Mr McKenna’s needs and, having visited Leas Cross on several occasions, recommended it as a satisfactory placement."

by eeekkk Wed Dec 07, 2005 03:19

"An independent report into Mr McKenna's death commissioned by the Health Service Executive was given to the McKenna family last week.

The report found that the assessment of Leas Cross as being suitable for Mr McKenna was critical and that the home was not in a position to fully care for his needs.

Dan Moore, the half brother of Mr McKenna, said that for the family the matter was still not closed.

He claimed that St Michael's House, which transferred Mr  McKenna to Leas Cross, was still in denial over its responsibility in the affair.

However, the McKenna family say that they are prepared to meet management at St Michael's House to discuss the handling of the case. 

Ms Harney expressed regret that it took five years from the death of Mr McKenna to the publication of a report into the circumstances of his care."

The Health Minister said that while there had been progress in implementing some of the recommendations in the Hynes Report into the affair, she urged the HSE to complete the implementation process as quickly as possible."

by eeekkkk Wed Dec 07, 2005 03:22

"The controversy surrounding Leas Cross nursing home continues, following confirmation by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, that health authorities had received a report critical of the standard of care provided by the home as early as last autumn.

The preliminary report by the former head of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Martin Hynes, is thought to highlight the unusually high mortality rates in Leas Cross, as well as low standards of care and a poor inspection regime.

It was originally commissioned following the death of a patient, Peter McKenna. Mr McKenna, who had Down's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease, had been transferred to Leas Cross from St Michael's House, despite objections from his family that it was not a suitable setting. He died 13 days later.

The full report was completed earlier this month and Health Minister, Mary Harney, has said it will be published at the end of the month."

by eeekkkk Wed Dec 07, 2005 03:24

Compiled Irish health.com coverage here:
http://www.irishhealth.com/?level=4&id=7726

by eeekkk Wed Dec 07, 2005 04:01

Extract:

"The factual evidence provided to Mr. Hynes by St. Michael's House is dealt with by way
of an addendum to the final report. The final report contains criticisms of St. Michael's
House that are withdrawn in the addendum. The presentation of a final report with an
addendum is confusing, contradictory and unfair. Mr. Hynes did not interview the staff involved in the care of Mr. McKenna. He did not seek expert medical opinion in considering the course of Alzheimer's disease in people
with Down's syndrome.

In its conclusion, the report ignores the fact that the proposal to transfer Mr. McKenna to Leas Cross was endorsed by an independent medical expert appointed by the High Court who visited that nursing home and deemed it suitable for Mr. McKenna's needs. Neither does the report highlight the fact that, due to his wardship, the decision to transfer Mr. McKenna was a matter for the President of the
High Court who ordered the transfer "immediately and as a matter of urgency".