A hospital has issued a sincere apology for the lapses in care provided to a 25-year-old woman who was admitted after a horse-related incident and tragically passed away five days later.
Midland Regional Hospital’s apology was made in the High Court as the family of Bryonny Sainsbury settled five legal cases against the HSE. Bryonny, a hairdresser, suffered a severe brain injury in an accident at a stable on August 26, 2021, when her horse, undergoing treatment by a vet, spooked and pinned her against a wall.
During the court proceedings, the family’s legal representatives, Richard Kean SC and Esther Earley BL, described the case as extremely distressing. Bryonny suffered catastrophic brain injuries when trapped by the frightened horse against the stable wall.
The focus of the case was on a series of serious mistakes at Midland Regional Hospital, where Bryonny was kept for three days before being transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
Despite Bryonny’s delusional and distressed state, with symptoms like vomiting, and her family’s persistent pleas for help, she was not moved to the specialist Dublin facility promptly. According to reports, the delay in transfer led to Bryonny needing life support upon arrival at Beaumont Hospital.
Bryonny, from Briskil, Newtownforbes, Co Longford, passed away at Beaumont Hospital on August 31, 2021, leaving her family shattered and heartbroken. The family deemed the apology inadequate given the circumstances.
The HSE admitted liability in the case, resolving the legal actions brought by Bryonny’s parents and brothers for nervous shock and wrongful death.
The legal proceedings alleged negligence in Bryonny’s care, attributing her death to inadequate treatment and delays in transferring her to a specialized facility. The family claimed that their concerns were disregarded by hospital staff, despite witnessing Bryonny’s deteriorating condition and requesting an urgent transfer.
A coroner’s inquest classified her death as a medical misadventure. The hospital manager, Margaret Kelleher, issued a written apology, acknowledging the tragic loss of Bryonny.
The hospital affirmed its acceptance of the System Analysis Review’s findings and recommendations, implementing all suggestions through a quality improvement team.
Expressing heartfelt condolences to the family, the hospital pledged to learn from the tragedy and improve care standards. Mr. Justice Coffey conveyed sympathies to Bryonny’s relatives, acknowledging the heartbreaking nature of the incident.
The Sainsburys family clarified that their legal action sought acknowledgment, accountability, and an apology rather than financial compensation. They emphasized the need for real change in hospital practices to prevent similar tragedies in the future, hoping that Bryonny’s legacy would be a catalyst for positive action.