External review following death of pensioner at UHG

An external review is being carried out following the death of a woman in her eighties at the Emergency Department at UHG, first reported by the Galway City Tribune last September.
The matter was raised by city councillor Padraig Conneely at this week’s meeting of the Regional Health Forum West.
He said the incident took place in September when the pensioner was taken to the ED on an ambulance trolley.
Councillor Conneely said she was waiting for four hours in a public area and later died there.
Chief Operating Officer Ann Cosgrove said the circumstances of the case are being reviewed by an external emergency department consultant based in Dublin.
This has involved linking up with the family to agree the terms of reference.
She said the Saolta Hospital Group has extended its deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased.
Councillor Conneely asked how such an incident could happen in an acute public hospital.