Family anger over OAP’S seven-hour hospital wait
A WOMAN last night spoke of her outrage after her elderly mother-in-law had to wait seven hours to see a doctor.
Sheila Fitzpatrick, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, was brought to Connolly Memorial Hospital in Dublin on Saturday after suffering a fall at her nursing home.
The 85-year-old, from Lucan, hurt her ankle and received a bump to the head.
Her daughter-in-law Eileen was left upset over the ordeal.
She said: “We were told she had to get an X-ray.
“We were in the subwaiting unit and Sheila was beginning to get agitated so I went to speak to the nurse, who told us there were six people in front of her.
“But later on three or four people came in after us and were seen by doctors first.
“My husband Michael arrived after finishing work at around 7pm.
“He said she got to see a doctor at around 10.30pm, but she was very frustrated after sitting there for that length of time, she hadn’t had anything to eat. Then she was very upset and told the doctor not to touch her.”
Sheila, who had become agitated, did not get an X-ray and was sent home.
Eileen said: “The doctor apologised and said there was no way she should have been there for that length of time.”
Last night the HSE said it could not comment on individual cases.