Vol. 512 No. 7
148 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to introduce a rapid and safe system for inter-hospital transfer of critically ill patients as recommended by the Irish Medical Organisation. [27188/99]
The provision of safe and effective critical care transfer services is the statutory responsibility of the health boards which have arrangements in place consistent with local policies and requirements. A number of important initiatives are already under way in this area. My Department has supported a project on the development of a critical care retrieval service operated in partnership by the Eastern Health Board and four major voluntary hospitals. The project provides a basis for developing a model of critical care transfer which best suits Irish requirements. In addition, I have allocated additional funding in 2000 to support the development of a neonatal retrieval service dealing specifically with the transfer of critically ill infants. Arrangements for the development of this service are at an advanced stage and it is expected that the service will commence operation in the first half of next year. I remain committed to the ongoing development of critical care transfer services in line with the priorities identified by health boards in this regard.
