A report ordered by the North Eastern Health Board into the death of a nine-year-old girl within weeks of her having an appendix operation at Cavan General Hospital criticises the manner in which she was dealt with by the hospital when she returned to it with stomach pains just weeks after her surgery.
The report, which will be published today, points out that when Frances Sheridan from Cootehill returned to the hospital on the afternoon of Friday January 30th she was seen by staff other than those who originally operated on her.
The team who operated on her should have been called on to examine her, the report states.
The report makes several recommendations and points out that every accident and emergency unit should have specific protocols for dealing with patients who turn up feeling unwell and have a history of recent surgery. A senior clinician should deal with such cases, preferably from the surgical team, it says.
The Irish Times has learned that the report also refers to the fact that when the child was sent back to the hospital by her GP she was told to bring an overnight bag as the GP expected her to be kept in. This did not happen.
The report looks at all the circumstances surrounding the girl's death on February 1st, three weeks after her surgery, and all her dealings with the hospital from when she first presented for her operation on January 7th.
A post-mortem examination by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy has already found the child died from complications of recent surgery.
Frances Sheridan had been recuperating at home when she experienced stomach pains on Friday, January 30th. She was brought back to the hospital and was seen in the casualty department.
She was then sent home as it was believed she was suffering from a tummy bug.
She awoke on Sunday morning, February 1st, vomiting blood and an ambulance was called by her family. But she was dead before it arrived.
Her treatment at the hospital took place during a period when concern was being expressed about the continuity of care which could be provided to patients in the absence of two of the hospital's three permanent consultant surgeons. Dr Pawan Rajpal and Dr William Joyce had been suspended over alleged interpersonal difficulties.
Dr Rajpal recently succeeded in the High Court in having a decision of the Minister for Health to appoint a committee to inquire into his removal overturned.
A ministerial inquiry is ongoing into the removal of Dr Joyce.
After the child's death, the health board confirmed it was investigating 15 adverse clinical incidents which occurred at the hospital after the surgeons were suspended. A report on those incidents by the board's medical advisor, Dr Finbar Lennon, found there was an absence of surgical leadership at the hospital.