A CONNEMARA councillor has called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) West to investigate how a patient with special needs was discharged without safe transport home.
Mr Seanie Flaherty (60) from Tullyvoheen in Clifden, Co Galway, was knocked down and killed while trying to thumb a lift home from Galway city on February 27th this year.
Just over four hours before his death, Mr Flaherty was examined for an injured arm in casualty at University College Hospital, Galway (UCHG).
Cllr Josie Conneely (FF) said Mr Flaherty's family deserves "answers". Gardaí are currently investigating the fatality.
HSE West, which conveyed its sympathies to the family, said it cannot comment as it is a matter for the coroner's court.
Mr Flaherty acquired severe hearing and speech difficulties after a fall as a baby. He lived alone and rarely visited the city. After he hurt his shoulder on February 26th, he was sent to hospital by taxi the next day.
Clifden only has one ambulance. It is understood that it is normal practice for GPs to discuss patients with the ambulance service in order to assess priority needs. Less urgent cases are sent by taxi.
It is understood that Mr Flaherty arrived at UCHG's casualty department sometime after 3pm, was treated and then discharged at about 4.15pm. Family members say he had been given a letter by the doctor in Clifden explaining that he had speech and hearing difficulties.
Mr Flaherty was sighted in the hospital grounds after his release, and there were reports that he tried to get information at several houses in a suburb on the Moycullen-Clifden road. He was hit by a car on the Moycullen road at 8.20pm.
A medical source told The Irish Times that, while procedures may be found to have been followed in the hospital, the death of Mr Flaherty was "a symptom of a much wider hardening of health services in this State".
"Patients can no longer appeal to politicians either, because health boards were abolished," the source said. "The only option seems to be a minute on RTÉ News, or a question in the Dáil, and neither option can address the real issues," he said.