Memories, 1988: Hospital now faces second investigation

Hospital now faces second investigation

AS the Mid-Western Health Board investigation into a claim that a dying man had been left waiting for six-and-a-half hours in the Regional Hospital casualty unit on Good Friday continues, the Board’s deputy CEO has now been asked to investigate the case of a second man who was allegedly turned away from the hospital on the same day and who died after being eventually admitted three days later.

The doctor, who referred the 78-year-old man to the hospital in the first instance, Dr Michael Lucey, or Croom, has told the Limerick Leader that in his opinion, the patient was in need of hospitalisation when he saw him.

But Dr Lucey refused to comment on the hospital medical staff’s assessment of the patient, which according to his relatives took over four-and-a-half hours in the casualty unit.

His daughter told the Limerick Leader - “We were told to take him home. I thought he would die on the way home.”

She said that she had been told by her own doctor that he was suffering from a kidney complaint, and a chest condition.

He was eventually admitted to the hospital on the following Monday and died on Wednesday, she added.

Meanwhile, Mr Paul Robinson, deputy CEO of the Health Board, said in an investigation into the original claim revealed in Monday’s Limerick Leader by Cllr Willie O’Brien is continuing.

He said that they have the name of the patient who was alleged to have been kept waiting for six-and-a-half hours and who has since died.

Deputy O’Brien said that the second case was brought to his notice following publicity about his claim at the Health Board.

And another Health Board member, Dr Darragh Little, says that while he would not pre-empt the results of the investigation, he was fearful in the coming of winter of people, “particularly the old, being left to die”.

Names galore to be plastered on bridge

THE name of every single one of the 17 members of Limerick City Council are to be etched onto a plaque on the new Shannon Bridge.

In the past, only the mayor of the day was afforded this honour.

At a recent meeting of the protocol committee of Limerick City Council, which was held behind closed doors, the city fathers selected Shannon Bridge as the new name for the third bridge across the Shannon in Limerick.

They also agreed to a proposal by Cllr John Quinn (P.D.) that the name of all 17 members on the city council be engraved on the stone to be placed on the bridge commemorating the official opening of the bridge.

Mid-West firms seminar

MOVES are being made in the Mid-West to try to get more companies to do business with Eastern Bloc countries. A seminar will be held on this matter next week.