A 75-YEAR-OLD man who died due to lack of available care could have been treated at Cavan Hospital after all, Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney last night revealed.

THE family of an elderly man who died after he was denied basic surgery because of hospital cutbacks has said he suffered a death no animal would be allowed endure.

The family of a 75-year-old farmer who died from a bleeding ulcer in Monaghan Hospital after three failed attempts to transfer him for emergency surgery tonight demanded permanent theatre services to be restored to the centre.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday insisted the controversial health service payroll system was not “a waste of time”, but admitted consultants had been “overused” on the project.

Campaigners have said the death of a man en route to Cavan hospital yesterday shows the effect of the Hanly reforms on the health service.

A non-national woman has given birth in the back of an ambulance due to the lack of maternity services at Monaghan General Hospital.

The North Eastern Health Board is planning to hold a special meeting on Thursday to discuss the Bonner Report with its author, a former civil servant.

The grandfather of the baby girl who died after her expectant mother was turned away from Monaghan Hospital has called on Health Minister Micheál Martin to resign in light of the current budget crisis in Irish hospitals.

THE Departments of Health and Environment have clashing policies on Monaghan General Hospital, according to local independent TD Paudge Connolly.

Minister for Health Micheál Martin has said that he believes that no attempt should have been made to transfer Denise Livingston from Monaghan hospital when she arrived there in the later stages of labour.

HEALTH Minister Micheál Martin last night rejected attempts by the North Eastern Health Board to defend its treatment of premature baby Bronagh Livingstone after an independent report said the wrong decisions were taken prior to her death.

The report into the death of a baby who was born prematurely after her mother was denied treatment in Monaghan Hospital is expected to be published later today.

Health Minister Michael Martin has told the Dail that, contrary to reports, the mother who lost her premature baby yesterday morning was seen at Monaghan Hospital.

A meeting on the future of Monaghan General hospital is now underway at the Department of Health in Dublin.