A Cork mother of two who was transferred to a London hospital for a vital liver transplant remains in a critical condition this morning.
Ms Sylvia O'Leary (32), from Ballincollig, was transferred by air ambulance from Cork University Hospital to King's College Hospital in London for the operation last night. She has been on a life-support machine at Cork University Hospital since December 21st last following partial liver and kidney failure.
A spokesperson for King's College Hospital said no time has been set for the transplant and the priority is stabilisng Ms O'Leary. She has spent several years battling against hepatitis C which she contacted from contaminated blood.
Ms O'Leary was at the centre of controversy earlier this week after her family accused the Department of Health of delaying payment of a compensation package believed to be worth about €1 million.
This will be Ms O'Leary's third liver transplant operation at the hospital, the others being in 1991 and last March. It was during the first of these operations that she contracted hepatitis C through a unit of contaminated blood.
The State was considered liable for the infection because Ms O'Leary was under its care at the time.