Five weeks after undergoing a quadruple bypass, an ex local election candidate in Clare was forced to spend three days on a trolley despite experiencing five blackouts in a short period of time.
Mick Murtagh from O’Briensbridge was admitted to University Hospital Limerick by ambulance on Sunday last week (August 18th) and had to wait until Tuesday evening (August 20th) to get a bed. The Limerick Leader reported in recent days that Murtagh was “ready to crack up” during his time in hospital. His return to hospital came two days after being discharged following the operation.
Family of the eighty year old were alerted by staff that as he lay on a trolley only one free bed was available for five dozen patients.
According to a spokesperson for UL Hospitals Group, they have been “experiencing high numbers of presentations in recent days, including many frail elderly patients”. The statement added, “This is not the level of service we or the staff working in UL Hospitals Group wish to provide”.
Murtagh contested the 2004 local elections as a Green Party candidate in the Killaloe electoral area, he polled 379 first preference votes and was eliminated on the first count. He has been a very active member of his local community including roles as Chairperson and Public Relations Officer of the O’Briensbridge Community Group.
