Inquest finds girl, 9, died due to hospital treatment
An inquest into the death of a nine-year-old girl has found that she died from hyponatraemia due to treatment she received at Belfast’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children in 1996.
Claire Roberts’ death was one of those at the centre of a public inquiry which came about as a result of a UTV investigation in 2004.
The Hyponatraemia Inquiry, chaired by Sir John O’Hara, that four of the five deaths examined had been “avoidable” and that there had been a “cover-up” by some consultants in relation to Claire’s care.
A new inquest was ordered and its findings were delivered at Belfast Coroner’s Court on Friday.
Claire’s parents have waited almost 23 years to find out the truth about their daughter’s death.
She had been admitted to hospital with symptoms including vomiting and drowsiness.
After hearing four days of evidence, Coroner Joe McCrisken found the cause of death to be cerebral edema due to hyponatraemia – which is linked to a shortage of sodium in the blood.
He found that it had been caused by inappropriate profusion of fluids, in combination with the effects of a viral illness and toxicity from treatments she had been given.
Mr McCrisken said that, with the correct tests and care, she would “in all likelihood” have recovered.
He further said that lessons should have been learned from the death of Adam Strain in 1995 – another case examined by the Hyponatraemia Inquiry.
Mr McCrisken told Belfast Coroner’s Court: “The Hyponatraemia Inquiry found that lessons had not been learnt from Claire’s death - other children have already died from hyponatraemia.
“Mr and Mrs Roberts made it clear yesterday that they remain to be convinced that lessons have indeed been learned from their daughter’s death almost 23 years ago.
“They, it seems, have lost trust in the health service. They have, it seems to me, in fact set the health service an immense challenge.
“It seems to me they say: ‘Show us that things have changed, prove to us that things are different now, prove to us that we can be satisfied that lessons have been learnt from the deaths of Claire, Adam, Lucy, Raychel, and Conor.’
“The challenge will not be easy, but it is one the health service, it seems to me, must strive to meet.”
Mr Roberts thanked the coroner in court following the findings.
“We have struggled for 22 years to establish the truth - from what we have heard from you this morning, sir, you have delivered the truth,” he said.
Speaking outside court, Mrs Roberts broke down in tears as she remembered her daughter.
“I talk to Claire every day, and I know she would be proud of her mummy and daddy,” she said.
Claire’s brother Gareth said of his little sister: “She was a beautiful, fun, loving child who will remain in my heart for as long as I live.
“We have been robbed of a lot of things, but they can never take Claire away from us - as my mother said yesterday, love never dies.”