The Western Health and Social Care Trust has appeared to distance itself from concerns raised over the presence of Jonathan Creswell at Katie Simpson bedside at the time of her death in Altnagelvin Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in August 2020.
While not commenting specifically on Katie’s case, a spokesperson indicated “Families were involved in deciding who was allowed to visit at all times and this was not decided by ICU staff.”
Katie, a talented showjumper from Armagh lost her fight for life on August 9, 2020, having been admitted six days beforehand.
While she was being treated Creswell – who was later charged with her rape and murder – was one of only a limited number of visitors due to strict ICU rules and Covid-19 restrictions at the time.
Questions swirled as to how this was permitted as PSNI had been made aware of his previous convictions involving strangulation and physical abuse, but these had been dismissed.
The Western Trust would have been aware of Katie’s 18 previous hospital admissions for purported horse injuries, generally accompanied by Creswell, which was also proffered as the cause of widespread bruising on her body before she died.
But staff did not know Creswell had brutally beaten Katie the night before her final admission with multiple injuries, and he was concerned her “suicide” may be attributed to him.
While she was undergoing emergency treatment, Creswell spoke with three women, his then partner Christina Simpson and co-defendants Jill Robinson and Hayley Robb.
He became emotional and confessed to beating Katie the previous night because she told him a lie, but stated he would inform medical staff she had been trampled to account for the bruising.
Prior to this Creswell told Hayley he had given Katie “a hiding” and instructed her to clean blood and take away his clothes for washing, which she did with Jill.
None of the women disclosed the real cause of Katie’s injuries and with no suspicion falling on Creswell he was permitted to become Katie’s bedside visitor to the very end and chief mourner at her funeral.
Under Freedom of Information the Western Trust were asked what visiting regulations, including Covid-19 restrictions, were in place in ICU in August 2020.
The response stated the decision to permit visitors on a day-to-day basis, lay with the nurse-in-charge, taking into consideration patient, staff and visitor safety. If permitted, the practice was one visitor per patient at any one time, for up to one hour per day.
Following disclosure of Creswell’s deathbed presence, the Western Trust were asked to clarify why this was permitted given the restrictions and being neither a blood relative, partner or next-of-kin.
They were asked if staff exercised due diligence particularly as some were raising concerns over the conduct of Creswell and others in the hospital.
What were staff told of Creswell’s connection to Katie and did they feel under pressure to allow him to be present and if so, why?
A spokesperson replied: “Due to patient confidentiality we do not comment on individuals.”
However, in general terms: “Once the Covid-19 status of each patient was established, visiting was reviewed by the ward sister and consultant and based on the patient’s condition, visiting arrangements were decided and reviewed daily.
“Visiting was restricted to one person for one hour per day, and virtual visiting was also offered, however any deterioration in the patient’s condition warranted further discussion around visiting.
“Families were involved in deciding who was allowed to visit at all times; this was not decided by staff. Each visitor had a Covid-19 checklist completed before being allowed to visit. These records were held in ICU.”
It is understood these records will be disclosed at inquest although no hearing date has yet been fixed.
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