A POLITICIAN has said he hopes a high-level health service investigation ordered following the death of an elderly hospital patient will result in "learning".
The Irish News revealed yesterday that police and the Northern health trust are carrying out separate probes after a man in his eighties died following an "incident" at Antrim Area Hospital on Saturday.
It is understand he left a medical ward and got in difficulties in a separate room of the hospital.
He suffered burns and was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he died.
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Pat Sheehan last night expressed his concern about the "absolutely tragic" case.
On Monday, the Northern trust confirmed it had ordered a Level 3 Serious Adverse Incident (SAI) investigation, which will be headed up by an independent expert.
It also notified police and the Health and Safety Executive.
Mr Sheehan said: "While I don't know all the details around this incident, I do know that level 3 SAIs are only ordered in the most serious of circumstances.
"I hope the report will lead us to find out what happened and that there be learning."
The PSNI said it was liaising with the Health and Safety Executive and the Northern trust to "determine the circumstances surrounding the incident".
A post-mortem is also to be carried out.
