A man whose sister died after years of excruciating pain has said the health system let her down.
Elizabeth Canning, who was 59, passed away in May at her Dublin home. She had spine curvature, spina bifida, epilepsy and had suffered a brain injury.
Her ailments left her in acute discomfort which Chronic Pain Ireland says affects up to 36% of the population. Her brother Con, 56, said wheelchair-user Liz needed constant “hospital care” but gaps in service left her “living in chronic, horrendous pain”.
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He added: “Her stress level was through the roof. We contacted the HSE, doctors, and politicians for help. But, unfortunately, my lovely sister passed without enough being done to help her get her pain under control.
“I would just like to highlight that our health service has to do more for our most vulnerable people. People with disabilities have a voice and can’t be ignored. They are suffering, not just because of living alone with disabilities but also because of cutbacks.
“Liz was born with spina bifida. It generated into nerve damage in later life and she suffered a brain injury in 2013 that left her with left-side paralysis.
“She could walk only short distances around her bungalow. Her mode of keeping independent was a powerchair.
“Things later went downhill as far as proper care of my sister. I wrote letters, highlighting the horrendous pain my sister was in. Her day-to-day pain got worse and nobody helped her. Her GP wrote a letter on her behalf for palliative care and an advocate from the disability sector wrote a letter of complaint.
“I sent emails to the Department of Health and Liz finally got a referral to a private care clinic in Dublin The appointment was May 17 but unfortunately she died on May 6.”
Looking back Con said his sister’s final years were dogged with acute pain. He said: “In 2012, she complained of headaches, eyes being sensitive to light, fatigue and nausea. Scans and tests were done. The results showed Liz was suffering from absent epilepsy and put on medication for this.
“In March 2013, Liz had a massive brain acquired injury. The National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire really helped. She was able to live independently with the help of a care team that visited her three times daily, but her pain increased.
“By 2018, her pain was eight on a scale of 10. She was in too much pain to walk or even sit in a car. Liz’s quality of life was on hold as funding for disabled people was stopped. I don’t understand our Government.” Con, who even wrote to the Taoiseach about his sister’s plight, added: “We miss Liz deeply and we are doing our best to cope with grief.
“You learn to live, but you never forget. Looking back at the last years of Liz’s life, she had a horrendous time. I just hope this Government wakes up and stops letting down the vulnerable people of Ireland, like our sister Liz.”
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