A Leitrim TD has branded the lack of emergency surgical facilities in the CHO1 area as a disgrace.
Addressing the Dáil last night, Deputy Marian Harkin told the story of a Leitrim teenager who lost part of their finger in an accident in recent weeks.
After arriving at NowDoc in Carrick on Shannon and realising it was closed, the teenager's sibling drove them to Sligo University Hospital where they were then sent to Galway University Hospital.
The boy was then told that there was no surgeon available to re-attach their finger and were told to either return home or find a B&B until a surgeon was available the next morning.
Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Deputy Harkin described the incident as completely unacceptable and called on the Minister for Health to address it as a matter of urgency.
"Minister, apart from the fact that nobody should be turned away from a hospital, a child was turned away.
I don't know what you think but I think that this is completely and totally unacceptable.
I'm hoping that this will be dealt with by the Minister for Health, it's a pity he's not here tonight but I'm glad your here."
