€125,000 settlement reached over man who died 2 weeks after discharge from UHW

The family of a man who was referred to hospital with shortness of breath and chest tightness but was later discharged home and died two weeks afterwards has settled, for €125,000, a High Court action over his death.

An autopsy found the cause of death for father of three Brendan Holden, from Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny, was severe underlying ischaemic heart disease, with an enlarged heart noted as a contributing factor.

The family’s counsel, Aidan Doyle, told the High Court it was their case the 64-year-old man should not have been discharged from University Hospital Waterford after he was referred there by his GP in May 2021.

The case settled for €125,000 and was before the court for the division of the €35,000 mental distress payment only.

The settlement against the HSE, which was reached after mediation, is without an admission of liability.

Counsel said Mr Holden, a retired mechanic, went to his GP on May 19, 2021, complaining of tightness in his chest over a number of weeks and shortness of breath on exertion.

He was referred to the emergency department of University Hospital Waterford on May 19, 2021. Mr Holden’s condition was described in the referral letter as "urgent".

Mr Holden was short of breath and triaged at the hospital, said counsel, adding he was discharged in the early hours of May 20. It was their case this should not have happened.

Josephine Holden, of Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny, had sued the HSE over the death of her husband.

In the proceedings, it was claimed Mr Holden’s death was caused by the alleged wrongful acts of the hospital.

It was further claimed had an appropriate history been taken from Mr Holden at University Hospital Waterford, it would have established unstable angina and he would have been admitted into hospital where appropriate treatment would have been administered.

It was further claimed that eight days after his hospital discharge, Mr Holden returned to his GP complaining of continuing chest tightness and was referred for an appointment with a consultant cardiologist, but he died suddenly in bed on June 9, 2021.

An autopsy later found the cause of death was severe underlying ischaemic heart disease, with an enlarged heart noted as a contributing factor.

All of the claims were denied.

Noting the settlement and approving division of the mental distress solatium payment, Mr Justice Paul Coffey extended his deepest sympathy to the Holden family.