DAY FOUR OF SAVITA INQUEST CONCLUDES

Date Published: 11-Apr-2013

Day four of the inquest into the death of Savita Halappanavar has just concluded.

Consultant Microbiologist Dr. Deirbhile Keady was among the witnesses to read her statement this afternoon.

She recounted a call received at home where her expert advice was sought in relation to the selection of antibiotics for Ms. Halappanavar.

During cross-examination, Coroner Dr. Ciaran MacLoughlin questioned whether there was any delay in getting a blood sample sent to testing on the Wednesday morning of Savita’s time in hospital.

Barrister Eugene Gleeson said it would seem the sample was taken at 7am and the Coroner referenced records which suggested the sample reached testing shortly after 10 that morning, some three hours later.

HSE Senior Counsel Declan Buckley said he would check it.

Dr. Keady maintained that she would not have changed the antibiotics given to Savita even if she had received the blood tests sooner.

She told the inquest that the antibiotics she was on covered the likely pathogens.

Two further witness statements were heard prior to the conclusion of this afternoon’s proceedings.