Hospital waits on bed to treat injured teen
However, a hospital spokesman rejected claims that Christopher Flynn’s life was at risk. “He is a priority but not an emergency,” he said.
Christopher needs to be assessed by the top neurological team at Beaumont’s intensive care unit and get an MRI scan to establish the extent of his head injuries.
His parents yesterday pleaded with Beaumont to admit their 19-year-old son before it is too late. He has been on a ventilator at Castlebar Hospital for over a month since he was thrown from a car in a crash and suffered severe head and chest injuries.
Christopher has been waiting eight days for a place in the intensive care unit at Beaumont.
His father, Danny Flynn, pleaded with Beaumont yesterday immediately to take his son.
“It is so hard after the doctors in Castlebar Hospital saved Christopher’s life to now see him in such distress every time he comes around from the sedation - we need to know the extent of his brain injuries.”
Christopher’s mother, Mary, also pleaded for him to be taken to Beaumont right away. She said there is a constant fluctuation in his temperature and blood pressure.“It is just pitiful looking at him. They can spend millions on doing up O’Connell Street but cannot find a bed for my son.”
Dr Jerry Cowley, the Mayo TD who got involved in this case on New Year’s Day, said the case highlighted the need for a neurosurgical unit in the West and an air ambulance service to bring head injury patients to Dublin or Galway.
Meanwhile, the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) yesterday intensified its campaign to tackle the hospital bed crisis. They have sought a meeting with the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) on how best to overcome this problem.
The ERHA has instructed all three health boards in its region to open 126 acute beds closed due to financial constraints.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
