A professor of surgery in the UK has been appointed to assist with the inquiry into the death of a man who bled to death at Monaghan hospital last month.
Prof John Monson, professor of surgery at the University of Hull, has been asked to assist Declan Carey, a surgeon at Belfast City University, to conduct the inquiry into the death of Pat Joe Walsh (75).
There were also unconfirmed reports last night that a third person based in the North has also been asked to join the inquiry team.
It is now unlikely the report into the death of Mr Walsh from Killanny, Carrickmacross, will be ready within the eight-week timeframe promised by Minister for Health Mary Harney in the Dáil a month ago. It is understood terms of reference for the inquiry have still not been forwarded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to those conducting the inquiry.
However, the HSE has asked doctors from a number of hospitals which were involved in the treatment of Mr Walsh to provide it with statements on their recollection of events.
Mr Walsh died at Monaghan General Hospital on October 14th.
He had been transferred to the hospital by ambulance from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda the previous evening. He collapsed in Monaghan, and a bleeding ulcer requiring surgery was diagnosed. Attempts were then made to transfer him to three hospitals for emergency surgery as Monaghan is not allowed carry out emergency operations.
The attempts to transfer him failed, with staff in Monaghan claiming they were told no intensive care beds were available in either Cavan hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital or Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. It subsequently emerged all three had beds available.
Ms Harney said at the time the circumstances surrounding "this tragedy require thorough investigation". The investigation, she confirmed, would be independent, and would be carried out by Dr Carey. Last evening the HSE North Eastern Area claimed the Carey inquiry had commenced. It confirmed Prof Monson was assisting.
Meanwhile plans to have all surgeons in the Cavan/Monaghan hospital group based in Cavan hospital from the beginning of January will be discussed with staff in Cavan hospital today when representatives of the National Hospitals' Office and the Royal College of Surgeons visit the hospital.