Fianna Fáil calls for investigation into airlift failure for transplant patient

Fianna Fáil Defence Spokesperson Dara Calleary TD has called for a full investigation into the failures which led to 14-year-old Maedhbh McGivern missing a liver transplant at the weekend.

Deputy Calleary said: “It seems incomprehensible to me that in a case as critical as this, it took so long to secure an airlift to London.

“The McGivern family were given approximately six and a half hours to get from their home in Leitrim to King’s College Hospital London after they got a call to say a suitable liver had finally been found for Meadhbh.

“But somewhere along the line, the system failed and Meadhbh missed the opportunity that she had waited almost 11 months for.

“We need to know where that breakdown occurred so we can ensure it never happens again.

“I am calling on the Minister for Health, the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Transport to investigate the communication between the relevant State agencies in relation to Meadhbh’s case on Saturday night.

I am particularly concerned about the discrepancies in the accounts of what happened on Saturday night. The HSE claims it contacted the Coastguard to request an airlift at 8.08pm on Saturday, but the Coastguard said it received that call 42 minutes later, at 8.50pm.

“The Air Corps, the Civil Defence and the Coastguard have an excellent record in dealing swiftly with emergency airlifts for patients in need. We need to know if the problem lies with the communication received by the HSE, or if it was down to resources. Meadhbh McGivern deserves to know why the system failed her.

“She and others on the donor list also need reassurances that it won’t happen again.”