Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2004
224 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children the action he proposes to take in view of the report into the death of a person (details supplied) at Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20612/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra225 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which responsibility for the death of a person (details supplied) will be apportioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20613/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra226 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which he proposes to address the executive decisions and administrative failures that contributed to the death of a person (details supplied) at Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20614/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra227 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Sheridan report fails to explain the absence of a consultant in the accident and emergency department when a person (details supplied) was admitted to Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20615/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra228 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children if the letter from the general practitioner of a person (details supplied) explaining their medical condition presented on admission to Cavan General Hospital has been located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20616/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra229 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children further to the observation in the report into the death of a person (details supplied) that the Cavan General Hospital was experiencing an increase in the volume and complexity of cases presenting at its accident and emergency department; the plans he has to reduce volume; if these will include the return of on-call services in Monaghan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20617/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 229, inclusive, together.
The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for the provision of services at Cavan General Hospital rests with the North Eastern Health Board.
Following the publication of the report into the circumstances surrounding the death of the person in question, I met the chief executive officer of the board last week. The report contains 22 recommendations of which eight are classified as high priority and 14 as medium priority. The board has advised me that most of the high priority recommendations have already been put in place and that it is working to ensure compliance with all of the recommendations. I have instructed the board to take steps to implement all recommendations as a matter of urgency.
With regard to some of the specific queries raised by the Deputy, I am advised by the board that the consultant in emergency medicine was not on duty in Cavan on the day in question; however there were three non-consultant hospital doctors, four nurses and a care attendant on duty in the A & E department when the patient presented. I am further advised that the referral letter from the family's general practitioner is on the child's medical file. As the Deputy is aware, a steering group for the Cavan-Monaghan hospital group has been established. The group will determine the level of service to be provided at each site, taking into account available resources, quality of care and safe practice. In view of the ongoing Garda investigation I am not in a position to make any further comment on this case.
