Delay hits report into patient’s death
In October, Health Minister Mary Harney described the report into the death of 75-year-old Patrick Joseph Walsh, from Killanny, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, as “a matter of urgent public interest and patient safety.”
In a written Dáil answer on October 25 to Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Ms Harney promised the report would be completed within eight weeks.
However, the Health Service Executive (HSE), which commissioned the report, has admitted it will not be completed before March.
Mr Walsh died of a bleeding ulcer on October 14 at Monaghan General Hospital, where surgeons are prohibited from carrying out emergency surgery, and theatres close at 5pm.
He had been transferred the previous day from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, for physiotherapy after a hip operation.
When it became apparent there was a serious problem with a bleeding ulcer, staff at sought an intensive care bed for him at Cavan General, Our Lady of Lourdes and Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, but were told none was available.
It has since emerged beds were available. This confusion will be investigated as part of the report.
Yesterday, Labour health spokeswoman Liz McManus said: “In light of her (Ms Harney’s) acknowledgement in the Dáil that Mr Walsh’s death ‘should not have happened’ and that the investigation, review, and report were required as ‘a matter of urgent public interest and patient safety’, the Tánaiste must clarify why the report has yet to be published.
She added: “Moreover, can she give a definitive date for its completion?”
She said Ms Harney had to clarify if the Belfast City Hospital surgeon, Mr Declan Carey, commissioned to carry out the report, had encountered any problems to delay its publication. Yesterday, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said the report was a matter for the HSE.
A statement from the department said “the HSE has advised the department that the terms of reference for the Independent Review into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Patrick Walsh RIP have now been finalised following consultation with Mr Walsh’s family”.
The terms were finalised on December 22 in agreement with the Walsh family, according to the HSE.
“The executive further advises that interviewing is to commence this month and that the review is expected to be completed in March 2006.”
Monaghan General has been at the centre of controversy for a number of years. It cannot attend to surgical emergencies, was off call for two-and-a-half years and has no maternity services. Plans to share surgical services with Cavan General were to take effect on January 1, but the Irish Hospital Consultant’s Association said no agreement had been reached with permanent surgeons at Cavan.
Yesterday, the HSE denied this saying “it was not aware there was any issue with existing surgeons at Cavan”.
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