Investigation urged following pensioner’s death
There are calls for an investigation into how a seventy-year-old man was allowed to die, having been refused urgent surgery at four separate hospitals.
The man, who was suffering from a bleeding ulcer, arrived at Monaghan General Hospital on Thursday.
However, doctors were unable to operate as the hospital is prohibited from carrying out emergency surgery.
Attempts were made to transfer the man to hospitals in Drogheda and Cavan as well as Beaumont Hospital, in Dublin, there were no intensive care beds available.
The man died yesterday afternoon.
The Monaghan Hospital Community Alliance has raised the matter with the Taoiseach, who was said to be shocked at the news.
But spokesperson, Peader McMahon, said he was given no assurances that it wouldn't happen again.
He said that the Taoiseach appeared to be upset about the news and said the incident should not have happened.
“We reminded him that this was something that we predicted would happen”, said Mr McMahon.
“I think something like this has to be investigated and the facts established as to why and how this occurred”, he added.
The Monaghan Hospital Community Alliance met with the Health Service Executive on Thursday morning to try to urgently get the hospital back on-call for emergency surgery.
“We predicted that deaths would occur if this was not done and now it has happened and unfortunately we have to live with the consequences”, Mr McMahon said.
