City Mayor and HSE regional health forum member Cllr Padraig Conneely says he fears the delay in implementing protocols for the discharge of people with disabilities from hospital may result in further loss of life.
The city councillor was commenting in the wake of a meeting of the forum at Merlin Park Hospital at which he highlighted the issue which had arisen from the tragic death of Clifden caretaker Sean Flaherty. The 60-year-old man with hearing and speech problems was knocked down on the Moycullen Road while trying to find his way home from a hospital appointment last February. He had attended University Hospital Galway’s emergency department for treatment for a broken arm.
Mayor Conneely, who championed his case on behalf of his family, was highly critical of the HSE at the time saying the late Mr Flaherty had no way home and the health authority should have recognised his needs.
“The late Mr Flaherty had been given a letter to attend UHG’s emergency department by his GP. It stated he was suffering from speech and hearing problems and a local hackney was organised to take him to the hospital. He left the facility with his arm in a sling and no way home. He was observed that evening enquiring which road led to Clifden and later called to houses in the Bushypark area seeking directions. UHG was of the opinion that Mr Flaherty was fit and well enough to understand despite a letter from his GP saying he was deaf and had a speech impediment. I knew him. He stopped at a house at Bushypark, he didn’t know his way home. That’s how bad he was.”
The inquest into the Connemara man’s death which was held last November recommended that the HSE draw up guidelines both for discharging patients with disabilities to ensure their safe return home and for taxi drivers bringing people with disabilities to and from hospital.
Speaking at the health forum meeting Cllr Conneely said these guidelines were to be sent to the Minister for Health and the National Hospitals’ Office. Hitting out at the HSE he said it didn’t know at what stage these protocols were but said it would find out.
“You say you don’t know. The same thing could be happening [again]. This is serious.”
Afterwards, he told this newspaper he was disappointed. “The HSE doesn’t know. I can presume there is no protection in place [for patients with disabilities being discharged from hospital.] It’s a long time ago since the coroner gave his damning report. Will the HSE ever learn? No, they don’t. They are slow learners. Unfortunately a tragedy has to occur before action is taken.”
