Girl who sued over delay in blood disorder diagnosis at Cork hospital settles for €200,000

A 13-year-old girl who sued claiming there had been a delay at Cork University Hospital in diagnosing her rare genetic blood disorder has settled a High Court action for €200,000.

When the condition was finally diagnosed when she was seven years old, it was claimed there was a failure to react and manage the schoolgirl’s symptoms for another four years.

Cork University Hospital and the HSE in the High Court expressed regret “for the omission which led to the proceedings” brought by Sophie Randall.

In the letter from hospital chief executive David Donegan, which was read to the High Court, it also wished the young girl the very best for the future.

Sophie Randall’s counsel, Dr John O’Mahony SC, told the High Court the inherited genetic blood disorder called hereditary spherocytosis is a life-long condition that can cause anaemia and other problems.

Dr O’Mahony said it was their contention the diagnosis should have been made when Sophie was four years old, but the condition was not diagnosed until she was aged seven in 2017. He said from that time, “nothing was done until 2021, when the matter became more pressing.”

He said the real criticism is that steps should have been taken to treat Sophie from 2017 onwards and something should have been done to advise her parents on how to manage it.

Dr O’Mahony said there was limited admission from the HSE in relation to the case.

Sophie Randall (13), of Greenfields, Model Farm Road, Cork city, had through her mother, Emma Randall, sued the HSE over her care at Cork University Hospital.

It was claimed that when the little girl was four years old she was referred to Cork University Hospital with elevated bilirubin levels in her blood. It was claimed that a full blood count and other tests as part of a haemolysis screen that time would have shown the girl was positive for hereditary spherocytosis, a blood disorder, but she was diagnosed with another condition.

It was alleged that there was a failure on that occasion to make the correct diagnosis.

The little girl, it was claimed, suffered from intermittent abdominal pain and also gallbladder pain.

After significant gallbladder pain in 2017 and further screening, Sophie was found to be positive for the hereditary blood disorder, but it was claimed there was a failure to react to Sophie’s positive result for the hereditary condition for over four years until June 2021.

Sophie, it was claimed, was not started on folic acid supplements to help support and manage her condition until 2021 and she wasn’t advised on the best diet to adapt to manage her condition.

It is claimed that if her condition had been diagnosed sooner, her symptoms would have been properly investigated and she would likely had been referred to a surgeon for surgical treatment for her gallbladder pain.

It was further claimed that between 2016 and 2021 Sophie suffered periods of severe gallbladder pain and also required treatment at Cork University Hospital during that time.

In June 2021, Sophie was referred to a Dublin hospital where she had her gallbladder removed.

The HSE admitted breach of duty for the delay in diagnosing and providing proper appropriate intervention for Sophie for her inherited blood disorder between May 2016 and June 2021.

However, the HSE denied all claims relating to the period before May 2016 and said the diagnosis made in 2014 was not an unreasonable initial diagnosis.

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable and he welcomed Sophie to court and said he was very pleased the matter had been resolved. The judge wished Sophie and her family the very best going forward.