Troubled hospital ‘must be given money to hire key personnel’

THE hospital where a Cavan schoolgirl died after a series of failures by medics and managers must be given the money to hire key personnel, the Medical Council has said.

A report on troubled Cavan General Hospital said at least two and probably three new permanent posts for surgeons need to be created to properly serve the hospital’s catchment area of Cavan and Monaghan. Council president said the extra appointments would “make all the difference.”

“The big problem at the moment is that we have a lot of temporary staff and empty posts. It makes it difficult for all concerned,” he said.

He added that financial considerations should not prevent the North Eastern Health Board, which runs the hospital, from implementing the council’s recommendation. “If they don’t have the money, they need to be given it,” he said. That view was echoed by council vice-president Colm Quigley, who noted the healthy state of the public finances. “It might be sensible to spend some money wisely in certain areas,” he said.

Council members visited the hospital in July amidst concerns about the accident and emergency and surgical departments following the death of nine-year-old Frances Sheridan last February. Frances died from complications arising from surgery for appendicitis the previous month, but she was diagnosed with having a tummy bug and was sent home without her surgical notes being consulted, her surgeon being alerted or her GP’s letter expressing concern about her condition being considered.

Her death came at a time when the hospital’s surgical department was in difficulties following the suspension of two permanent surgeons in an ongoing legal wrangle. A report to the council’s monthly meeting yesterday said two or three more surgical appointments could be made without impacting on the two posts at the centre of the row.

The report on the hospital visit was generally positive and Dr Hillery said he had been very impressed with the staff he met in the medical, nursing and managerial areas. They appeared to have a good insight into the issues raised by the Frances Sheridan case. The Council would continue to keep a watching brief on the hospital and planned a return visit there later in the year.

Yesterday’s meeting also heard that the council was offering to meet individually with patients and relatives who had complaints about disgraced doctor Pascal Carmody, who was struck off the medical register earlier this year after charging large sums to treat people with a controversial therapy that made unsubstantiated claims about curing cancer. Dr Hillery dismissed recent claims by Mr Carmody that he would be appealing the council’s recommendation that he be banned for life from practicing as a doctor. “There is nothing to appeal. We can only make a recommendation,” he said.

He added that Mr Carmody had several opportunities to oppose his striking off when the case was going through the High Court and he had not availed of them.