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Helicopter airlift plan for isolated patients


A new plan to airlift critically ill patients from North and West Clare for special treatment in regional hospitals would substantially improve survival rates, a local accident and emergency consultant has confirmed.
Government approval to expand the role for the Shannon-based search-and-rescue helicopter would result in a new strategy to transport major trauma patients in isolated parts of the county to 24-hour casualty departments in a fraction of the time it currently takes by road.
The Clare Champion can reveal that preliminary discussions have been held between the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Irish Coast Guard Service and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) on the best way to utilise and co-ordinate existing resources.
While a number of outstanding issues remain to be resolved, progress has been made putting a new proposal in place to airlift acute trauma victims as a result of the negotiations organised by Clare Fianna Fáil Deputy, Tony Killeen.
Dr Cathal O’Donnell, accident and emergency consultant in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick and Ennis Regional Hospital, outlined how an advanced paramedic would administer life-saving treatment to a major trauma patient at the scene and would then transport the person to an approved landing strip in West or North Clare. There, the Irish Coast Guard helicopter would provide rapid access to an appropriate hospital once it had a helipad.
Stressing there would be no change in existing arrangements for the majority of accident and emergency cases in Clare, Mr O’Donnell said that this new arrangement would only be implemented for a small number of cases once an agreed protocol was implemented.
The casualty consultant pointed out once a number of outstanding issues were resolved, he hoped that the new plan could be implemented by the end of the year.
He said the new arrangement would be a great addition to existing services and would result in a significant difference in survival rates for acute trauma patients.
He praised the work of Deputy Dooley who had “opened a number of doors” that might otherwise have remained closed thanks to his work behind the scenes.
One of the main benefits of the plan is the fact it will not involve any large capital outlay or additional cost, as it is believed the Irish Coast Guard Service has the capacity to fulfil it expanded role.
All of its existing crew are highly trained paramedics who have the same level of training as HSE paramedics and would have the expertise to be able to treat a critically ill patient being airlifted to hospital.
A new helipad facility was provided on the grounds of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick last year and most of the regional hospitals have this facility, apart from University College Hospital, Cork where patients have to be dropped off at Cork airport before they are transferred to the hospital.
It is expected that a planning application for a new helipad landing strip will have to be lodged with the planning department in Clare County Council, who will request the input and observations of the Irish Aviation Authority, who will also play a key role in ensuring the project is successful.
Deputy Dooley confirmed that he organised a meeting in Dublin between senior officials in the Irish Coast Guard Service, the HSE and the IAA, where the overall proposal was discussed and noted negotiations have been ongoing since then.
If the plan comes to fruition, the Fianna Fáil deputy predicted it would be a fantastic service for patients suffering from life-threatening injuries and could mean the difference between life and death.
“I would view this as a pilot project for the Mid-West with particular benefits for people living in North and West Clare, which could be rolled out in other parts of the country. It could be provided without any additional cost and would be very beneficial for acute trauma patients,” he said.
Efforts by the newspaper to contact a spokesman for the Irish Coast Guard Service were unsuccessful.

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