Health group claim man's death may have been avoided

Campaigners have said the death of a man en route to Cavan hospital yesterday shows the effect of the Hanly reforms on the health service.

The 55-year-old Monaghan man suffered a heart attack and died while he was being brought by ambulance to Cavan General Hospital.

Dr John Barton, consultant physician and a member of the Health Services Action Group, said the man's chances of survival may have been higher if he could have been brought to Monaghan Hospital a few minutes from his home.

However under the Hanly reforms, no trained cardiac doctors are available at Monaghan Hospital for emergency situations.