Aeromedical centre misses deadline

An aeromedical centre proposed after Leitrim teenager Meadhbh McGivern missed out on a transplant operation in July will not be ready by tomorrow as recommended.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed the 24-hour National Aeromedical Coordination Centre is not yet in place, “but that the work that the centre will carry out is currently being done across two sites”.

Fourteen-year-old Meadhbh, from Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, has arrived back in Ireland following her successful liver transplant which took place at King’s College Hospital in London last month.

A new system to co-ordinate the transfer of patients abroad for emergency medical procedures was established after the teenager was not transported to London in time for a long-awaited operation in July.

A report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) recommended the establishment of a new aeromedical centre. It was due to have been set up by tomorrow.

A spokeswoman for the HSE said the organisation and other parties involved, including the Defence Forces, the Coast Guard and Crumlin children's hospital, had worked vigorously since the publication of the Hiqa report to give effect to its recommendations.

“A good deal of progress has been made in relation to the implementation of the recommendations of the report. This is supported by the fact that a number of patients have been transferred successfully recently, including one last night,” she said.

“In relation specifically to the establishment of a 24 hour National Aero Medical Coordination Centre, the HSE can confirm that this is not yet in place but that the work that the centre will carry out is currently being done across two sites.

"An oversight group comprised of all parties is now place, processes have been established and are working well, and once staff are recruited we will proceed to the full establishment of the centre."

Meanwhile, a Hiqa spokeswoman said: “The Health Information and Quality Authority would expect the National Aeromedical Coordination Centre to be established within the two months as set out in the recommendations from the authority’s inquiry. The authority has not signed off on the HSE's implementation plan on the recommendations.”