Bridget Conroy, a 71-year-old mother of 10 from Clooncullane, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, died on January 29, 2023, at University Hospital Galway following a medical misadventure during heart surgery. An inquest held at the Galway Commercial Boat Club confirmed that complications arose during a procedure at The Galway Clinic on January 25, 2023, leading to the patient’s transfer after she suffered three cardiac arrests.
Details of the medical procedure
Mrs. Conroy attended The Galway Clinic in January 2023 after medical concerns were identified during her recovery from an unrelated procedure. Dr. Gordon Pate, who performed the heart operation on January 25, testified that the patient became unwell during the procedure due to a suspected dissection of an artery caused by a catheter. While Dr. Pate inserted stents to stabilize the patient, he acknowledged that his failure to utilize an intervascular ultrasound to assess internal bleeding was “an oversight.” He stated that he would have performed the ultrasound if he could repeat the procedure, despite its own inherent risks.
Did You Know? Dr. Gordon Pate testified that during his 20-year tenure at The Galway Clinic, he had never previously needed to transfer a patient to University Hospital Galway.
The night of the incident
Following the surgery, Mrs. Conroy was returned to her room, where her husband, Matty Conroy, was permitted to visit for 15 minutes due to then-active Covid-19 restrictions. Shortly after midnight, Mrs. Conroy’s condition deteriorated, and she suffered three heart attacks. Counsel for the Conroy family, Damian Tansey, characterized the out-of-hours emergency cardiac care at The Galway Clinic as “a time bomb,” citing a lack of on-call CAT lab nursing staff to open the facility during the emergency. Dr. Pate confirmed that the clinic lacked the necessary personnel and equipment to address the patient’s condition at that time.
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What happens next
Counsel for The Galway Clinic, Harry Walsh, noted that certain aspects of the internal review require further clarification, suggesting that additional documentation or internal inquiries may follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the cause of death for Bridget Conroy?
The coroner recorded a verdict of medical misadventure following the complications that arose during her heart surgery on January 25, 2023.
Did the surgeon acknowledge any errors during the operation?
Yes, Dr. Gordon Pate acknowledged that his failure to perform an intervascular ultrasound to identify the extent of internal bleeding was an oversight.
What concerns were raised regarding the hospital’s emergency readiness?
Counsel for the family, Damian Tansey, stated there were no CAT lab nursing staff on call to open the lab during the emergency, and Dr. Pate testified that the clinic lacked the necessary equipment and personnel to manage the patient’s condition that night.
How can healthcare facilities better ensure that emergency protocols are consistently met during out-of-hours procedures?
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