Drogheda ‘should not have discharged Walsh’

DOCTORS at Monaghan General Hospital said that Patrick Walsh, the 76-year-old man who died in horrific circumstances in Monaghan last week, should not have been discharged from hospital in Drogheda.

Medical sources said Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital “has a serious shortage of beds” and this is putting pressure on bed managers to “discharge patients quickly and get the next patient in.”

The source added that the region’s bed shortage also means that registrars regularly have to “do a drill” at night where they ring Cavan, Drogheda, Beaumont, the Mater, Blanchardstown, St Vincent’s, St James’ and Tallaght hospitals looking for surgical beds.