Leitrim stroke patient discharged from hospital despite house undergoing reconstruction

A County Leitrim man who suffered a stroke was discharged from hospital despite the fact that his house was undergoing reconstruction, the Dáil has heard.

Sligo-Leitrim Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny raised the case of the man during a recent ‘Questions on Policy or Legislation’ session.

Deputy Kenny said: “I wish to raise the issue of the HSE discharging people from hospitals without the consent or co-operation of the families and in breach of the HSE's own protocols.

“I have an example of a man in south Leitrim who had a stroke and was in the care of the HSE. His sister in Dublin got a phone call saying, ‘He is going home today’.

“She said there was nobody at home and that the house was under reconstruction because of the situation. She was told that he would be put in a taxi and sent home. That is it.”

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He went on to describe a similar situation involving a woman in County Donegal.

“A similar situation in south Donegal involved a lady who was in hospital. She was a very vulnerable patient with poor eyesight.

“Her daughter phoned the hospital to inquire about her and she was told she had already gone home.

“The daughter contacted a neighbour who had found the lady wandering outside in her pyjamas in the month of January.”

Deputy Kenny said that such incidents are happening more and more because of the pressures facing hospital staff.

“This type of situation is happening more often than one would realise. Because of the pressures the HSE is under it is pushing people out, in breach of its own protocols and often without a care package in place.

“In regard to that gentleman in Country Leitrim who had had a stroke, adequate services for his rehabilitation were only put in place this week. He was waiting for two months.

“No care plans are being given to people and they are being sent home in breach of the HSE's own protocols and regulations.”

In response, Tánaiste Simon Harris agreed that HSE staff are facing significant pressure but insisted that people shouldn’t be sent home in such circumstances.

The Tánaiste said: “I take Deputy Kenny fully at his word and do not doubt in any way the accuracy or bona fides of what he has shared with the House.

“I also accept the HSE is often very busy and under pressure. There are very many fine people who work in our health service and we thank them for that.

“There is, however, no excuse for anybody, no matter how busy they are, to discharge somebody without making sure there is an appropriate care plan in place. Surprising relatives and the like is not an acceptable thing to happen.”

He went on to ask Deputy Kenny to share details of the incidents in question with the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

“I am not doubting the Deputy but on foot of him raising it, perhaps he will share the details, if he would not mind, in a confidential and an appropriate manner with the Minister for Health.

“I will ask that she would directly pursue that with the HSE. There are very clear protocols in place, as Deputy Kenny said, in relation to these issues.”

Deputy Harris concluded by saying that he was “very sorry” to hear of the two cases and added that Minister Carroll MacNeill will engage with Deputy Kenny directly.