The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, was yesterday urged to investigate why a pensioner had to wait six days for emergency surgery after she fell and broke her hip.
Ms Veronica O'Keeffe (87) broke her hip last Wednesday but was forced to wait until Monday because there was no operating theatre available at Cork University Hospital. Cork North Central Fine Gael TD Mr Bernard Allen called on Mr Cowen to hold an inquiry.
"It's inhumane and incredible for such a delay to occur when the country's finances are in such a healthy state," he said. A Southern Health Board spokesperson said because of a high number of emergency cases, including 20 elderly people with broken hips, several operations were postponed.