Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I join Deputy Kenny and the Tánaiste when she raised the matter earlier in extending my sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Patrick Walsh of Carrickmacross who died at Monaghan General Hospital last Friday, 14 October. The circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Walsh will, as we heard from the Tánaiste earlier, be the subject of an independent review to be undertaken on behalf of the Health Service Executive by Mr. Patrick Declan Carey, a consultant surgeon at Belfast City Hospital and an honorary senior lecturer at Queen's University Belfast City Hospital. That review is to be completed and a report issued within the timeframe outlined by the Tánaiste. The terms of reference for the review are being finalised, but it will cover the period commencing with the admission of Mr. Walsh to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda on 21 September until Mr. Walsh's death in Monaghan on 14 October. The report will be furnished to the director of the national hospitals' office of the Health Service Executive who will make recommendations as he sees fit. The HSE in the north-east area has contacted the family of Mr. Walsh and a meeting will take place today. The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, has also offered to meet the family if they so wish.

Earlier today the Tánaiste outlined the circumstances of the incident. This is clearly a tragic event. It is difficult for people to explain. I do not attempt to explain it. The patient had been in hospital since 21 September, was released on 13 October and came back in the following day. The medical records and those who were dealing clinically with the patient were in the hospital in Drogheda, but he was brought to Monaghan hospital when there was a bed in Cavan hospital. I do not understand why this happened.

I know difficulties have existed in the area for some time, but I will not use the tragic and regrettable death of Mr. Walsh to get into those arguments. I met the Hospital Alliance last Friday night when I first heard of this case some hours after the death of Mr. Walsh. The Hospital Alliance outlined the case explaining to me that Mr. Walsh could not have an operation in the hospital because of protocols set out. As the Tánaiste outlined those protocols were from the recommendations of the steering group which were unanimously approved by members of the group in the interests of patient safety.

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