Damning care report for hospital

THE Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, has issued a damning report into the care of a patient who died two days after he was admitted to Sligo General Hospital.

Ms O’Reilly was investigating a complaint made by the family of the man, referred to in her report as Mr X, who died in January 2000.

She found that having determined that he was seriously ill, staff failed to communicate this to his family. Her report also criticised staff for failures to record medical intervention and to post a fluid restriction notice over the man’s bed, which was necessary to maintain patient safety and ensure compliance with the fluid restriction detailed in his medical notes.