The Midland Health Board have launched an investigation into the death of a patient three days after he received burns at Tullamore General Hospital in Co Offaly.
The man (61), who was from Birr, Co Offaly, was a patient at the Midland Regional Hospital when he was reported missing from his bed at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, according to a Midland Health Board spokeswoman.
The nursing staff instigated a full search of the hospital and hospital management contacted the patient's family.
The man was found 4½ hours later in the theatre department autoclave room. The room is used for cleaning and storing surgical instruments and equipment for an operating theatre. "It's an area hidden from general view," the spokeswoman said.
The health board said the man had suffered burn injuries as a result of being in close proximity to hot pipes. "He was suffering from burns when he was found."
He was transferred to the adult burns unit at St. James's Hospital, Dublin, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. He was treated for in the specialised unit there but died at 10.30 a.m. yesterday.
Midland Health Board CEO, Mr Pat Gaughan, expressed his sympathy to the patient's family on behalf of all the nursing staff at the Tullamore Hospital.
"A full investigation has been launched and the patient's family will be fully engaged in that process," Mr Gaughan told The Irish Times last night.
Staff who attended to the man were said to be extremely upset by his death.