Nurses want full security audit of hospitals death in Cork

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has called for a full security audit of all hospitals, after an elderly man died following a suspected assault by another patient in a hospital over the weekend. 

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families at the centre of yesterday morning’s tragic incident in Mercy University Hospital. 

“We have been offering our union’s full support members in the Mercy and will continue to do so. 

“In light of this awful incident, the INMO is once again repeating our call for a full review and audit of security systems and protocols in Irish hospitals. We haven’t had a security audit of our hospitals since 2016, it is time now for the HSE to complete a full audit of what measures are in place in each hospital,” Ms Ní Sheaghdha said.

The pensioner who died has been named as Matthew Healy.

The incident happened on Sunday at Mercy University Hospital in Cork. Gardai were alerted shortly after 5.30am.

It is understood the patients involved were being treated in the same ward of the hospital.

Gardai attended and a man in his 30s was arrested at the scene.

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Sunday. Gardai said the results were not being released for operational reasons.

The area of the hospital where the incident happened remained sealed off on Sunday for forensic and technical examinations.