A report into the death of Patrick Joseph Walsh at Monaghan General Hospital last year has been rejected by members of the regional health forum for Dublin and the North East.
At the first meeting of the forum since the report was published, Monaghan county councillor Hugh McElvaney proposed that it be rejected. He said that to accept its recommendations would result in more deaths.
The forum, one of a number established after the abolition of the health boards, provides a point of contact for local representatives and the Health Service Executive. There is no political representation on the HSE.
At yesterday's meeting members were told that the report had been accepted by the HSE, which had commissioned it.
Regional health office director with the HSE Ray Mitchell said: "It is a matter for the HSE to accept or reject it. They commissioned it and you can only have one authority."
Mr Mitchell said the report was not "in isolation" and "we have had a number of incidents". He said the HSE had to tackle the issues raised in the report and "we have to make sure there are no risks in the system and [ ensure] the quality of service".
The meeting heard that since January 1st surgical services in Cavan and Monaghan hospitals were operating as a single department.
Cllr McElvaney said the report was written in such a way that the media coverage focused on clinical practice. "Where are the names of the HSE and formerly the north eastern health board officials who officiated over a two-site hospital that cannot function? Monaghan General Hospital was allowed to be run down and this HSE and its predecessor allowed it to happen," Cllr McElvaney said. Members of the old health board had warned reduced services "would lead to tragedy".
Dr Bill Tormey of Fine Gael supported the rejection of the report.