A&E unit which turned heart attack victim away remains off-call

A HOSPITAL unable to treat a heart attack victim because its A&E service was off-call will remain closed to emergencies for at least two months.

Benny McCullagh, 72, died en route to Cavan Hospital on Tuesday, after being turned away from Monaghan Hospital, just 500 yards from his home.

Although the Government has sanctioned five junior doctors in anaesthesia, which will allow the hospital to resume its on-call service, it will be some time before the unit can deal with emergencies. The service has been suspended since July 2002.