Hospital investigation demanded

FRANKFORD. Well-liked local musician Joaquin Rivera died about 50 minutes before any workers at Aria-Health Frankford realized the man — slumped and motionless in the hospital waiting room — passed away, police said yesterday.

And that was 11 minutes after three despicable thieves stole his watch, according to surveillance video shown by police officials investigating the crime.

The state Department of Health is investigating why Rivera, 63, would be left unattended for so long inside the ER waiting room. City Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez also called Thursday for hearings into the sad mishap.

The hospital would not comment, saying only that it has launched an investigation, reports said. According to police, it appears from the video that Rivera died about 11 minutes after walking into the hospital.