Cavan Senator Pauline Tully has expressed concerns about the “standard of care” in Cavan General Hospital.
In the Seanad this afternoon, Senator Tully spoke about a 12-year-old who was admitted to Cavan General for a keyhole appendectomy.
She explained, that the child began his fast from food and water on Monday evening, but early on Tuesday morning he developed severe pain.
According to the Senator, nurses called for doctors to attend to him – but they went unanswered.
Senator Tully said he spent 27 hours in pain, and fasting from food and water until his surgery on Tuesday night.
She said: "He was supposed to go in first thing in the morning. He went the whole day without food, water, and in pain.
"His parents were told that the operation went well. At half four yesterday, he couldn't breathe. His eyes were rolling in his head. He actually said to his parents, 'I think I'm going to die'."
The child’s mother has a connection with someone in the North East Sepsis Awareness.
Because of this, the symptoms of sepsis were identified, and the child is now responding well to treatment.
However, Senator highlighted the seriousness of the situation.
Senator Tully said: "If sepsis gets into your body - it doesn't leave. For those who survive sepsis, it can have serious consequences.
"I want to commend NESA for the work they are doing. We need to see health professionals recognising the symptoms.
"There is no excuse for what this child went through in Cavan General Hospital," she added.
Northern Sound has reached out to the HSE for comment.
