Unfair Dismissal Hearing In Case Of Thurles Nurse

An Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) have begun a hearing today in the case taken for ‘Unfair Dismissal’ by a Thurles resident nurse, previously employed at a Thurles Hospital.

The State Registered Nurse, named as Mrs Patrica Ó’Caoláin, formerly with an address in Tralee, Co. Kerry, who was dismissed last January, was present at the Tribunal hearing today.  During cross examination, the nurse strongly denied that she was suffering from a rare form of Cognitive Confusion (A brain confusion disorder found normally only affecting elected members of the Labour Party).

Also giving evidence at the tribunal’s hearing today were two current and highly respected local medical practitioners employed at the hospital; namely Dr. Sean Bradshaw (M.D.) and Dr. Mary Creighton (D.O.).

Medical practitioner Dr. Sean Bradshaw informed the Tribunal today that he believed nurse Ó’Caoláin was indeed suffering from a rare, and as yet, a little understood form of Cognitive Confusion. “She at all times appears incredibly confused,” he stated. “She carries out her written instructions totally the opposite to what was initially recommended for patients in her care. One week prior to her dismissal by the HSE, I told her to give a patient 2 milligrams of morphine every 10 hours. She gave him 10 milligrams every 2 hours, resulting in the near demise of her patient.”

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Mary Creighton, also giving her evidence, stated, “Earlier that same week, I told Nurse Ó’Caoláin to give a patient one enema every 24 hours. Nurse Ó’Caoláin later tries to give the patient 24 enemas in one hour. The patient in question could have actually exploded were it not for the timely intervention of a ‘Jobbridge’ plumber, undertaking pipe leaking repairs, nearby in the same ward.”

Dr. Creighton went on to state that the decision to suspend and eventually dismiss Nurse Ó’Caoláin, came about following a blood-curdling scream from a passageway near Ward A2, on the second floor. Nurse Ó’Caoláin had earlier that day been given a written instruction by Dr. Creighton to “Prick the boil” of a patient.

The patient in question, aged 91 and a fully paid up member of the VHI, had been lying contentedly in the corridor, ignored on a trolley for over a week, prior to this intervention by Nurse Ó’Caoláin.

Solicitors acting for the HSE confirmed that the patient, identified at the Employment Appeals Tribunal as being Mr. John McAleese, a native of Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, now walks with a pronounced stoop; having totally lost the use of his vocal cords. A Solicitor acting on behalf of the 91 year old’s current wife; named as thirty seven year old Mrs Angela McAleese (nee Dwane), stated that presently a case was before the High Court, seeking compensation for ‘Sexual Aversion Disorder,’ (Persistent or recurrent extreme aversion to, and avoidance of, all or almost all, genital sexual contact with a sexual partner), brought about by Nurse Ó’Caoláin’s treatment of Mr. John McAleese, her husband.

Apologising to Mr McAleese, a spokesperson for the HSE agreed, during the hearing, that the present condition experienced by Mr McAleese was most likely brought about as a direct result of the boiling water administered to the patient’s lower abdomen by Nurse Ó’Caoláin.

The case before the Employment Appeals Tribunal is expected to continue for at least another week. Same is also expected to add even further problems in current talks on health issues by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and is most likely to further effect efforts to form the next government.