Uproar as pensioner sent home alone in taxi
Health officials came under fire this week after it was claimed a Co Longford pensioner, recuperating from a broken hip, was sent home in a taxi from a leading midlands hospital unannounced.
Insights into the claims were disclosed at last week’s meeting of Granard Town Council by Cllr Eddie Kelly.
The Leader has since learned the individual concerned is an elderly woman in her “late 70s or early 80s” and is a resident of Granard.
Taking the floor at the end of the local authority’s monthly meeting, Cllr Kelly said he had only learned of the matter earlier that day.
“The Health Services in this country must have reached an all time low,” he groaned, as other elected representatives looked on in stunned silence.
“This patient had a broken hip and was sent to Tullamore (Midland Regional Hospital). When they were discharged they were sent back in a taxi to Granard. This person couldn’t get up the stairs,” he said, before branding the controversy as an “absolute disgrace”.
He added: “I think we should write to Tullamore Hospital and the Minister (of Health, Dr James Reilly) and ask why that person was discharged. James Reilly should be held accountable.”
To read this story in full, see this week’s Longford Leader.
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Weather for Longford, Ireland
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
