Probe into Ennis heart death

The HSE has said it will hold a review into the death of a man who suffered a cardiac arrest in an ambulance after having to bypass the newly-closed emergency department at Ennis General Hospital earlier this week.

The 59-year-old man suffered a cardiac arrest in an ambulance minutes away from the A&E at Limerick Regional Hospital and was declared dead shortly after reaching the A&E.

His wife said his life might have been saved if the A&E unit at Ennis was open at the time.

The incident has fuelled local concern about the safety implications of closing the Ennis A&E.

The HSE said it is conducting a clincial review into the circumstances surrounding the case, as it would in cases of a similar nature. It added that it was satisfied that all appropriate care was provided to the patient in question.

[Posted: Tue 21/04/2009]