The husband of a Ennis woman who died after her surgeon allegedly carried out a litany of errors in her treatment says every day has been a struggle since.
39 year old old mother of 13 Martina Sherlock of Childers Road died on December 10th 2008 after undergoing three operations in 3 weeks.
A Medical Council hearing into the case opened yesterday
Consultant Surgeon Syed Naqvi who carried out the procedures on the Ennis woman faces a total of 11 allegations of professional misconduct and poor professional performance.
Yesterday the Medical Council heard that his patient Martina Sherlock who was pregnant at the time, first attended the A&E in Ennis in June 2008 with abdominal pain which was initially wrongly diagnosed.
She lost her baby through miscarriage due to septicaemia in July and her appendicitis was not diagnosed until November 18th – She then had three operations and died in early December
In a statement to the hearing Mrs Sherlock’s husband James how his children, ranging in age from eight to 25, had been suffering since the death of his wife..
He described his wife as an absolute lady who only cared about her children and her home and added that every day had been a struggle since her death ..
Council for Mr Naqvi denies the allegations he faces.
The inquiry heard that in 2005, when Mr Naqvi began working at the hospital, there were three surgeons. By 2008, his two colleagues had retired and were not replaced.
His colleagues had written to the Minister for Health and the Medical Council seeking advice about a lack of consultant staff and inadequate surgical facilities.
However, Eileen Barrington SC, for Mr Naqvi, said: "Regrettably no steps were taken."
The inquiry also heard in late 2008 that HIQA had been asked to investigate Ennis hospital, and the following April had reported it was unsafe to continue complex surgery there.
In September 2009, the A&E was closed and Mr Naqvi transferred to the regional hospital in Limerick.
Ms Barrington pointed out that the patient was seen by a significant number of practitioners at three hospitals — Ennis, the maternity hospital in Limerick and in the regional in Limerick.
The CT scan was requested by Ennis to Limerick regional on September 12, 2008 and the results were received on November 18. The medic who performed the scan said he did not receive the request until September 25.
She said there was "undoubtedly a delay in obtaining the CT scan" and Mr Naqvi bore no responsibility for that.
