Parents accuse health trust of falsifying medical records

Martina and Ryan Tierney are expressing their anger and frustration after the death of their daughter, Molly, at 34 weeks of pregnancy. They believe that the Southern Health Trust covered up issues related to their care. Their concerns were reportedly ignored for many hours before midwives confirmed there was no heartbeat. A report from the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (Nipso) highlighted serious failures in the care Mrs. Tierney received at the Craigavon Area Hospital Maternity Unit in October 2021. The trust apologized for these failings and expressed condolences to the Tierney family. They say they are working to improve their maternity services based on the report's recommendations. Martina Tierney's pregnancy was considered high risk due to previous complications. On the day she was admitted, she experienced severe abdominal pain. Despite her pleas for help, medical staff reassured her that everything was okay. Over the next 36 hours, she received pain medication, but no further action was taken until she reported a lack of fetal movement. By early Sunday morning, tests were conducted, but doctors were unable to detect a fetal heartbeat. Martina described her feelings of numbness, anger, and guilt, stating that she felt unheard. Ryan Tierney voiced his devastation over the loss of their daughter, describing the situation as harrowing and urging accountability for what he called an attempted cover-up. The ombudsman's investigation found "fundamental failings" in the care provided. It noted that staff should have escalated Martina's case due to her severe pain. Concerns were also raised about the falsification of medical notes. The ombudsman has referred this matter to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for further investigation. The Tierneys were able to spend two days with their daughter in a special bereavement room at the hospital. However, Ryan described the emotional toll of carrying Molly's coffin through the hospital to the mortuary as extremely difficult. A Serious Adverse Incident Report confirmed that inaccuracies in recording Martina's pain contributed to the failure to escalate her care. The trust is now focusing on ensuring accurate records and improving staff training.