"The health system failed Bryonny" - Health minister and HSE CEO issue formal apology to Longford family

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and HSE CEO Bernard Gloster, have today issued a formal public apology to the family of a 25-year-old Longford woman who tragically lost her life in August 2021 following what would later be described as a series of 'egregious errors' with her medical care at Mullingar Hospital.

Bryonny Sainsbury, from Briskil, Newtownforbes, had initially been admitted to the Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar after she sustained injuries following an equestrian accident. 

A 2024 inquest into Bryonny's death however heard how some of the advice provided to Mullingar by Beaumont specialists was not followed, and that she could have been saved if she had been transferred to Beaumont sooner.

Over the past five years, Bryonny’s parents, Chris and Alison, have fought relentlessly for answers and accountability over the death of their beloved daughter.

Read Bryonny's story here: Heartbroken parents of Longford woman Bryonny Sainsbury: ‘We had the trauma of watching our daughter die’ 

Today's public apology comes 7 weeks after the completion of a High Court case concerning the series of failures in the hospital care provided to Bryonny.

In the statement released today, Minister MacNeil and Mr Gloster "acknowledged, without reservation, that the health system failed both Bryonny and her family" and that they expressed their “deepest and unqualified apology.”

The statement continued, “In meeting with the Sainsbury family, the Minister and the HSE CEO heard directly about the profound distress they experienced - not only during Bryonny’s time in our care, but also throughout the lengthy review and legal processes that followed."

In what appeared to be a reference to the Sainsbury family’s account of their pleas going ignored in the hospital when they begged for their daughter to be helped, the statement added, "It is clear that the communication, support, and respect they needed and deserved were not provided. This was unacceptable.”

Read: Family of Longford woman Bryonny Sainsbury want answers about delay of report into her death

In her comments within the statement, Minister MacNeill said the Sainsbury family “may never know how many lives will be saved or improved through their advocacy and sharing their most painful of experiences, and that this would be “the poignant but enduring legacy of their beloved Bryonny.”

The minister added that she wanted to reassure the Sainsbury family of their collective commitment to improving the culture in the health service so that everyone experienced "the support they deserved at their times of greatest trauma and distress."

"There is no space in our health services for not listening to families ..." the minister continued, "...for not treating patients and families with respect and compassion, for not communicating openly and honestly.”

Read: HSE 'profoundly sorry for devastation and deep grief' Longford family endured 

Mr Bernard Gloster, CEO of the HSE said the courage and generosity of Bryonny’s family in participating in the review process had “directly contributed to the development of the National Patient Safety Alert for Clinical Governance of Traumatic Brain Injury, an important national safeguard designed to strengthen patient safety and ensure that the voices of patients and families are heard.”

He said the Sainsbury’s tireless advocacy to bring about these necessary changes to the healthcare system is recognised, and these reforms will serve as your daughter Bryonny’s enduring legacy.

“We are fully committed to driving the cultural and systemwide changes required to ensure that no other family endures what the Sainsbury family has been through. We reaffirm our commitment to the core values of listening, compassion, respect, and open communication - values that must guide every interaction within our health system.”

Read: Parents of Longford woman Bryonny Sainsbury vow to continue to fight

“We hope that today’s apology, together with the publication of the review, offers some measure of acknowledgement and support as the Sainsbury family continue to live with the loss of Bryonny. We again extend our heartfelt condolences.”

The formal public apology statement concluded with the condolence: “May Bryonny rest in peace.”