Martin expresses concern over issues at Cavan hospital

The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said this evening he was "concerned" at the death of nine-year-old Frances Sheridan and at the "wider issue in Cavan General Hospital over the last number of months".

Expressing his sympathy to the Sheridan family over a "hugely traumatic event" Mr Martin said the North Eastern Health Board had initiated an inquiry and the State Pathologist is carrying out a post-mortem "and I have to await the outcome of both those reports and inquiries".

Mr Martin said he had met with management members of the health board today and assured people he has faith in the standards of care at Cavan.

Nine-year-old Frances Sheridan from Cootehill, Co Cavan, was brought to hospital with stomach pains last Friday. She was X-rayed and examined in the hospital's casualty department before being sent home. On Sunday morning she vomited blood and an ambulance was called, but she died before it arrived.

Mr Paul Robinson, chief executive of the North Eastern Health Board, said fourteen critical incidents at Cavan Hospital, including a number of deaths, are being investigated.

He said "two at least" of these 14 cases concerned deaths. The incidents had been reported to the board since July 2003.

Last night Mr Robinson appointed a committee to investigate the death of a nine-year-old girl two weeks after she had an appendix operation at Cavan Hospital.

The committee includes Mr Conor Egleston, A&E consultant at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; retired consultant paediatrician Dr Brian McDonagh; Ms Julie Sheridan, paediatric clinical nurse manager at Cavan hospital; and Mr Gerry Clerkin, risk adviser, Cavan/Monaghan Hospital Group.

According to Mr Robinson, investigation of critical incidents is part of a new reporting system for all hospitals which came in to play a year ago. Some of the incidents were minor and involved "slips and trips" said Mr Robinson.

Mr Robinson said the committee would "review all issues relating to this [incident] from the time that the young girl went into hospital on the January 7th."

Meanwhile delays in the establishment of an inquiry to investigate the suspension of two consultants from Cavan General Hospital have left the Minister for Health "extremely annoyed and frustrated".

Mr Pawan Rajpal and Dr William Joyce were suspended six months ago because of interpersonal difficulties. Both are seeking to have these suspensions lifted in the High Court. The third consultant surgeon at Cavan, Mr Noel McMurray, is on sick leave.

Mr Martin said today he has appointed a third committee of inquiry to examine the issue of the suspended surgeons. He added that he met with members of the North Eastern Health Board this afternoon to discuss the suspensions and also the death of nine-year-old Frances Sheridan. Mr Martin said he expected an additional locum consultant to be appointed to Cavan Hospital tomorrow.

The previous two committees were disbanded due to the withdrawal of senior participants and a perceived conflict of interest.