I want to raise the case of an 18-year-old woman living in Cavan. She was admitted to Cavan General Hospital in September 2025. She was 17 at the time and spent four weeks there with symptoms of vomiting, constant headaches and light sensitivity. One doctor thought it was chronic meningitis and talked about doing a lumbar puncture but other doctors disagreed. No procedure was carried out and no determination was made as to what was actually wrong. She was given antibiotics and sent home. She ended up back in hospital in November, this time for nine weeks, again with similar symptoms, only worse. She was very dizzy, collapsing and not able to keep food and liquids down. Again, no conclusions were reached and no adequate treatment was prescribed. She ended up being admitted in May for a week. She was discharged on a Friday, but had to be brought to hospital by ambulance the following Thursday and was readmitted for another four weeks.

Of the last nine months, she has spent 18 weeks in hospital. She is vomiting, collapsing and very weak. When she was readmitted in May, she was put on a heart monitor because her heartbeat was erratic. Bloods were taken every day but she got no clear explanation as to why this was happening or what the right conclusion from the tests was. She collapsed several times while in hospital but this was not actually documented by the hospital. A dietitian was only notified of her condition on the day that she was being discharged. The dietician was very worried about her and said that she should have been peg fed for the time she was in hospital.

She has now been referred to community services but there are very long waiting list there. There was no referral for a second opinion. Even though this was mentioned, it was not actually done. Her notes to her GP were inaccurate and did not include some of the medication she was prescribed. She has now ended up on 20 tablets a day. An 18-year-old woman on 20 tablets a day is outrageous. Her notes talked about appointments made for her that she attended but she had not. Even the records around her care were not accurate. She has lost 10 kg in weight and has missed out on a year's school, including missing her leaving cert.

It is not that the first time I have raised concerns about healthcare in Cavan General Hospital. The vast majority of staff are excellent. The hospital is under-resourced and under pressure. The Minister for Health needs to address the inefficiencies in Cavan General Hospital. I am concerned about the hospital and about patient care. I do not want to see the hospital undermined in any way. We are delighted to have a hospital in the county, but it has to be one we have trust in. I am calling on the Minister for Health to address the issues in Cavan General Hospital.