Children will die: warning after 20 heart ops cancelled

TWENTY children had vital heart surgery cancelled at the country’s leading children’s hospital so far this year because of a shortage of intensive care nurses.

It was also revealed yesterday that only one additional intensive care bed has become available at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin since the tragic death of two-year-old Róisín Ruddle in July 1, 2003.

On Monday, two children were sent home from Our Lady’s after their heart operations were cancelled. One of the children was sent to theatre and was fully prepared for surgery.