Husband and wife Sean and Sally Rowlette pictured in happier times. Sally died from a sever form of pre-eclampsia. Pic from Greg Harkin.

A GRIEVING dad of four whose wife died in a regional hospital hours after giving birth to their daughter has told of his heartache after being told his wife should have been taken to hospital earlier.

Sean Rowlette, (39), broke down giving evidence today in the inquest into the death of his wife Sally who died from HELLP syndrome, a severe form of pre-eclampsia, on February 5 last year at Sligo Regional Hospital.

The couple had been childhood sweethearts and had been married for 12 years.

Mrs Rowlette, who was 36, died hours after giving birth to Sally Jnr.

Dhara Kivlehan (28) died from the same syndrome after being treated at the same hospital 18 months earlier. Earlier this year a jury in Leitrim found she had died by medical misadventure.

In his emotional evidence today, Mr Rowlette said the birth of his eldest daughter Leanne, now aged nine, and their third child Joseph, now aged four, had passed without incident.

However there had been difficulties with the birth of another daughter Abbie in September 2007. She’s now seven.

“Sally was sent to ICU for 24 hours after the birth of Abbie,” said Mr Rowlette who choked back tears as he gave evidence.

“We were told this was for observation. We were told that Sally had a high Blood Pressure but nothing else. Thankfully, Sally recovered. At no point were we told not to have more children or that there were any increased risks associated with this.”

He said that just after midnight on February 4, 2013, Sally had been unwell and they decided to go to hospital. A relative came to mind the children.

“Sally went into each of the kids’ bedrooms and kissed them and told them that she would see them tomorrow. We called the hospital and left at approximately 12:50am,” said Mr Rowlette from Dromore West, Co Sligo.

“Sally was still very calm and she talked about the kids on the way to the hospital, telling me how to look after them while she was in hospital. Other than a bit of nausea and retching, Sally was fine on the journey.”

However within an hour, Mr Rowlette told Sligo Coroner Eamon MacGowan, there was ‘chaos’ after an alleged dispute over giving Sally an injection.

“Sally asked for an epidural but was told that as she was already 5cm dilated, it would not be possible.,” said Mr Rowlette.

“A male doctor, who I now know to be Dr Ahmed, stated that he would administer a 20ml dose of Pethidine to Sally. A female doctor, who I believe is named Dr Sinead McDermott, confronted him and told him that the correct dose should be 4ml,” said the witness.

“There were two nurses standing nearby, while this was going on. The doctors had a heated discussion over the correct dosage. I didn’t want to get involved as this was already making Sally anxious.

“I could see that Sally looked worried and I didn’t want to panic her further. Dr Ahmed aggressively grabbed the syringe, pushed Dr Sinead McDermott out of the way, and administered the 20ml dosage of Pethidine to Sally. Approximately 15 minutes later, chaos erupted and staff rushed around in a panic.

“I asked what was wrong and was told that the baby’s heartbeat had dropped to 40 and Sally needed to go to theatre for an emergency C-section. The nurses were told to bring Sally’s bed to theatre. No porter could be found to assist with this transfer, and so I helped the nurses to push Sally’s bed to theatre.”

The widower said his wife gave birth to her new baby without the need for the operation.

His red-haired wife, he said, had held baby Sally and commented: “At last, I have my red head.”

At this point in the hearing, a distressed Mr Rowlette couldn’t continue reading his statement. He stayed in the witness box as his solicitor Roger Murray read the rest of it.

Mr Rowlette said he sneaked into the ICU unit and saw a medical team around his wife’s bed. He told the jury of five men and four women that one of the medical staff had spotted him and told the rest of them to be quiet.

By 11am on February 5, the day after being taken to the hospital, his wife was put on a ventilator and he was told she had suffered a brain hemorrhage.

She died later that day.

The court heard that Sally’s obstetrician Dr Ismail was no longer in Ireland.

“Dr Heather Langan informed us that Dr Ismail resigned from his post at Sligo Hospital three weeks after Sally’s death,” said Mr Rowlette.

“We asked where he was now and Dr Langan replied that she did not have his whereabouts to hand at that time. I asked Dr Langan if there was anything she would have done differently, if she had been Sally’s treating doctor, instead of Dr. Ismail. She informed me that yes, she would have brought Sally in at 38 weeks and induced her, because of the history.”

Mr Rowlette told the hearing at Sligo Court House he was shocked at his wife’s death but wanted some good to come from it.

“I wanted something good to come from such an horrific nightmare. Sally was a very kind person and always looked out for others,” said the dad.

“I know that she would have wanted her organs to be donated. Three people received organ transplants from Sally, and I have received letters thanking me and Sally for her gift. When I was told that Sally was brain dead, I enquired about organ donation with the medical staff.

“At approximately 9pm, I asked if Sally should now be pronounced dead in advance of the organ donation. I wanted us to say goodbye to Sally before she was pronounced dead. I was told that Sally had already been pronounced dead at 11am. I was stunned and shocked that I hadn’t been told this. Sally was brought to theatre on Tuesday night (the next day) for organ donation.”

Under cross-examination by Conor Halpin, Senior Counsel for the HSE, it emerged that Mrs Rowlette had suffered from HELLP syndrome when she gave birth to her second daughter Abbie.

Mr Rowlette said neither he nor his wife had been aware of that.

The inquest continues.

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