Restoration of services ‘may not stop repeat of tragedy’

THE restoration of 24-hour accident and emergency services to crisis-hit Monaghan General Hospital may not be sufficient to prevent a repeat of the Bronagh Livingstone tragedy, campaigners warned yesterday.

There was a cautious welcome locally for the decision which is due to come into effect as soon as staff are recruited to fill the five additional junior doctor positions sanctioned.

Peadar McMahon of the community campaign group, the Monaghan Hospital Alliance, said he hoped it was the beginning of the restoration of a full range of specialist services which have been withdrawn from the hospital in a gradual downgrading in recent years.