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A young woman died months after begging her GP for help with her chronic fatigue syndrome, an inquest heard. <\/p>\n
Maeve Boothby-O\u2019Neill, 27, had written to her doctor asking for help with feeding as she was hungry.<\/p>\n
Ms Boothby-O\u2019Neill had been diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). She died at home in Exeter, Devon, in October 2021.<\/p>\n
The inquest, which is scheduled to last two weeks, continues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The hearing in Exeter heard that she had told her GP, Dr Lucy Shenton, in June 2021: “Dear Dr Shenton, I know you are doing your best for me, but I really need help with feeding. <\/p>\n
“I do not understand why the hospital did not do anything to help when I went in. I am hungry, I want to eat.”<\/p>\n
She continued: “I have been unable to sit up or chew since March and the only person helping me eat is my mum. I cannot get enough calories from a syringe.<\/p>\n
“Please help me get enough food to live.”<\/p>\n
She had been suffering from fatigue since the age of 13, which got worse after she completed her A-levels, and later struggled to maintain \u201cany normality due to fatigue\u201d.<\/p>\n
The hearing is focusing on her care from January 2021 until her death.<\/p>\n
According to medical notes, by July she was unable to read, watch TV or engage in conversations, and was only getting out of bed to use the toilet.<\/p>\n
She was also unable to chew food and had difficulty drinking because she was not able to sit up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Ms Boothby-O\u2019Neill had been admitted three times to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital but was discharged each time and sent home, the inquest was told.<\/p>\n
Dr Shenton\u2019s colleague, Dr Paul McDermott, said he was “slightly shocked” that, having admitted her to hospital in March 2021, she was sent home the same day.<\/p>\n
Ms Boothby-O\u2019Neill\u2019s mother, Sarah Boothby, wrote to the GP practice manager in the April wanting to know what had “gone badly wrong” with the care of her daughter.<\/p>\n
“Since 10 March, 2021, I have been the only person providing care for a person unable to sit, stand or chew,” she wrote.<\/p>\n
“This is a long-term chronic condition without prognosis or treatment protocol. <\/p>\n
“What is the plan for hydration, liquid, nourishment and transfers to a bedside commode in the community?<\/p>\n
“You had arranged to speak by phone to me before the pandemic in February 2020. <\/p>\n
“You did not call as arranged then and when I rang the surgery, they told me you were off sick.<\/p>\n
“This case was urgent then and it is very urgent now.”<\/p>\n
Ms Boothby described her daughter as an “exceptional” child and an A-grade student.<\/p>\n
Her father, Sean O\u2019Neill, a journalist with The Times newspaper, added: “I especially wanted it to be remembered that she was a special big sister to Danny and Lily.<\/p>\n
“Her death has been hard for Danny and Lily to understand. <\/p>\n
“Illness stopped them knowing her better, but they knew her love and on her death bed she remembered them.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n