HSE chiefs face probe on absence of helipad
Today’s HSE South regional health forum will see the concern formally raised by at least three politicians, including Cork City’s lord mayor, all of whom will call for the service to be established immediately.
Despite the fact CUH is the only level-one trauma centre in the country and covers a large urban and rural area, the hospital has been without a helipad allowing air ambulances to land for over a decade.
This is because a decision was taken to build the facility’s emergency department at the same location as the former helipad, with other potential development areas subsequently taken up by car park spaces.
The issue has been repeatedly raised in recent years by local politicians and patient groups concerned over the potential impact of the gap in care.
However, the latest spotlight placed on the problem has come from the death last month of 7-year-old James Casey-Butler, who drowned after falling into a river in Midleton.
During the frantic efforts to save his life, a Shannon-based coastguard helicopter was asked to assist. However, it was decided the child would be brought by ambulance to CUH instead due to the helipad concerns.
While there was no suggestion that using the air ambulance would have saved the boy’s life, Lord Mayor John Buttimer said the issue had to be resolved without delay.
“It is imperative the HSE recognise the importance of providing a landing area for a helipad on the grounds of CUH,” he warned.
In a statement at the time of James Casey-Butler’s tragic death, the HSE South said it was still examining how to build the helipad at the facility.
“In relation to the provision of a helipad on the CUH campus, the provision of a helipad facility at CUH has been included in the Development Control Plan [DCP] for the hospital campus,” it said.
“The future potential development on campus at CUH as identified in the DCP provides for a new acute block with a recommendation that the helipad be located on the rooftop of this new facility.
“In relation to patients requiring air transport, the HSE would like to reassure the public that patients who currently require transfer to and from CUH by air ambulance are taken to Cork airport.”
