A 27-year-old who died after suffering from (ME) for years was forced to battle the NHS as well as the disease, a health minister has said. died at home in October 2021 after years of slow decline from the chronic fatigue disease severe ME. The illness, which she contracted in her teens, left her unable to function normally, stand or sit up, feed herself, chew or swallow.
An inquest into her death found that a “ ” led to failings in the treatment Ms Boothby O’Neill received, with her family struggling to find her proper care from the NHS. Devon Assistant Coroner Deborah Archer ruled that Ms Boothby O’Neill had caused by severe ME after her hospital was unable to treat the condition. She said there had been “failings” in the way medical staff consulted each other over the best treatment for Ms Boothby O’Neill to receive, but that this is unlikely to have changed the ultimate outcome of her condition.
The Government has now pledged to improve the care offered to ME patients. Andrew Gwynne, the Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said in response to Friday’s findings: “My deepest sympathies go out to Maeve’s family and friends in this tragic case. Every patient deserves to have their condition understood and treated to the highest standard, and this is a heart-wrenching example of a patient falling through the cracks.
“Maeve and her family were forced to battle the disease alongside the healthcare system which repeatedly misunderstood and dismissed h.