A senior doctor at Altnagelvin Hospital has told a public hearing into the death of nine-year-old Raychel Ferguson he removed crucial evidence ahead of her inquest.
Paediatrician Dr John Jenkins has told the Hyponatramia Inquiry he deleted evidence to the coroner as he believed at the time it was not relevant.
The inquiry is trying to establish the facts surrounding Raychel Ferguson’s death. The nine-year-old died after undergoing routine surgery to remove her appendix in Altnagelvin Hospital in 2001.
Last week the inquiry, being held in Banbridge, heard the Western Health Trust had admitted liability in the case was making arrangements for discussions to take place on how much compensation should be paid.
The inquiry’s remit includes who knew what and why relevant information wasn’t passed onto the authorities, including the coroner.
Dr Jenkins told the hearing he deleted the information because at the time he understood the Western Health Trust only wanted him to concentrate on the broader picture.
Addressing Dr Jenkins, the chairperson said he found it curious that an expert panel invited to draw up guidelines on hyponatramia failed to examine the deaths of children who had recently died from the condition.
In response, Dr Jenkins said at that time he was not even aware more than one child had died from hyponatraemia.
Hyponatraemia is the term for a low level of sodium in the bloodstream which causes the brain cells to swell with too much water.
The inquiry is examining the deaths of three children in hospitals in Northern Ireland, the events following the death of another and a number of issues arising from the death of a fifth child.
Dr Jenkins apologised to the families for any distress caused before leaving the witness stand.
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