Opinion

Analysis: Cawdery family's call for health service openness must be heeded

Wendy Little Cawdery and Charles Little, the daughter and son-in-law of Michael and Marjorie Cawdery. The couple, who were both 83, murdered in their Upper Ramone Park home in Portadown over two years ago. A fresh health service investigation has concluded the deaths were avoidable. Picture by Mal McCann
Wendy Little Cawdery and Charles Little, the daughter and son-in-law of Michael and Marjorie Cawdery. The couple, who were both 83, murdered in their Upper Ramone Park home in Portadown over two years ago. A fresh health service investigation has conclude Wendy Little Cawdery and Charles Little, the daughter and son-in-law of Michael and Marjorie Cawdery. The couple, who were both 83, murdered in their Upper Ramone Park home in Portadown over two years ago. A fresh health service investigation has concluded the deaths were avoidable. Picture by Mal McCann

SIR John O'Hara's landmark inquiry into the hospital deaths of five children, four of which were avoidable, sent shockwaves through the health service 18 months ago for its no-holds-barred approach.

Doctors and senior NHS administrators intent on "avoiding scrutiny" and "protecting their own reputations" were publicly named in the extensive report, as were those linked to a 'cover-up' of a little girl's appalling treatment that led to her death.

The major inquiry also concluded however that the health service has "most definitely been transformed since the period under review" - and even pointed to "greatly improved mechanisms" in the investigation of Serious Adverse Incidents (SAIs) to "reduce the risk of recurrence" and to "learn from".

Read more:New NHS probe into killings of pensioners finds deaths were 'avoidable'

The high court judge's words were seized on by NHS administrators and inserted into a press release, issued on the day of the report's publication alongside unreserved apologies and pledges to ensure that a more open and transparent culture was upon us.

During an interview yesterday with Charles Little and his wife, Wendy Little Cawdery, Mr Little reproduced a copy of one these media releases from multiple files following his forensic research into health service failings since the tragic killing of his in-laws, Michael and Majorie.

For the Cawdery family, their experience in dealing with the health service over the past two years has been, in their own words, "retraumatizing" - compounding their grief during an unimaginable period of suffering.

Their doggedness in pursuing the Southern Trust following a botched SAI probe - which they weren't even included in - and demanding a second independent investigation, which has now found the couple's deaths could have been prevented, has set an extraordinary precedent.

At the same time, it also calls into question the string of previous confidential probes into "serious" deaths in Northern Ireland in health care settings where mistakes are suspected, which other families, understandably, may not have the strength or wherewithal, to pursue.

Marjorie and Michael Cawdery who were stabbed to death at their Portadown home in May 2017
Marjorie and Michael Cawdery who were stabbed to death at their Portadown home in May 2017 Marjorie and Michael Cawdery who were stabbed to death at their Portadown home in May 2017

The fact that a separate probe is also calling for the reporting of SAIs to be reviewed as a "matter of urgency" is also worrying.

In a year of some of the most disturbing scandals in the our health service, including the Muckamore Abbey abuse crisis and the Dr Watt patient recall, ongoing obstruction and secrecy - according to the families - is still very much prevalent.

While Sir John O'Hara accepted "full compliance" will never be achieved in the SAI system, more inclusion with affected families and patients is essential.

As a tribute to the bravery of Cawdery family in their quest for truth and to ensure that lessons really are learned, one can hope their demand for the new SAI to be published is heeded - and that 'transformation' of a health service culture can begin.

Read more:New NHS probe into killings of pensioners finds deaths were 'avoidable'

Seanín Graham
Seanín Graham Seanín Graham