The recommendations
• All patients admitted to Cavan General Hospital with acute GIT (gastro-intestinal) conditions likely to require major surgical intervention should be transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. These would include patients with bowel obstruction or internal bleeding, but not routine appendix operations.
• No GIT surgery should be performed in Cavan for the present on a patient who may require intensive care.
• Interventional radiological support for patients should in the first instance be requested and sourced from colleagues within the region.
• The range and quantity of elective intermediate surgery should be increased immediately in Cavan.
• Protected day and five-day beds should be put at the disposal of the surgical service without delay.
Dr Lennon said that if these recommendations were implemented he believed the hospital could continue to provide an emergency on-call surgical service.