Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Medics grilled over barbecue blunder that forced hospital helipad to shut

A helicopter ferrying a sick ­patient from a remote island to a mainland hospital was forced to ­divert to an airport after the pilot spotted doctors having a barbecue near the helipad.
 

The Scottish Ambulance Service aircraft had to abort a planned ­landing at Lorn and Islands ­ Hospital in Oban, Argyll, because of the “hazards” posed by the al fresco diners.

The aircraft was approaching the hospital last Thursday night when a crewman pointed out there were junior medical staff cooking food on the barbecue just yards from the landing spot.

The pilot radioed for an ambulance, which was to meet them on the ground, to head to Oban ­Airport seven miles away at North Connell.

Details of the incident emerged yesterday after an investigation by NHS Highland.

The health authority insisted no lives were put at risk because of the altered landing arrangements, but confirmed that “advice” would be given to the medical staff to avoid a repeat of the incident.

A hospital insider yesterday described the incident as “embarrassing” and added: “The fact an air ambulance couldn’t deliver a patient because some doctors were enjoying a barbecue in the sun next to the helipad really wasn’t our finest ­moment.

“The hospital is a lifeline service for the people in Argyll, the outlying ­countryside and on the Hebridean islands.

“To have a patient told they’re having to land miles away, then face a road trip by ambulance to reach the hospital, is quite frankly embarrassing.

“The doctors apparently did not even realise what they’d done. Did they not realise the big noisy object hovering overhead was trying to land?”

The Scottish Ambulance Service yesterday confirmed details of the incident, but insisted that no lives were put at risk.

A spokesman said the Glasgow-based helicopter was carrying out a “routine” transfer from an island to the hospital, and was picking up a patient for transfer to the city.

He added: “An air ambulance helicopter on a routine non-emergency medical transfer was unable to land at Lorn and Islands hospital due to a potential hazard near the helipad.

“The helicopter flew to Oban airport and undertook a planned refuelling, from where the patient was transferred to hospital by road ambulance.” Veronica Kennedy, acting locality manager at Lorn and Islands Hospital, said “steps will be taken” to avoid a repeat.

“An air ambulance helicopter on a routine non-emergency medical transfer was unable to land at Lorn and Islands Hospital due to a potential hazard near the helipad,” she said.

“This happened at about 9pm on Thursday evening. The helicopter flew to nearby Oban airport and undertook a planned refuelling, from where the patient was transferred into hospital by road ambulance.

“The potential hazard was staff having a barbecue outside their ­accommodation, which is about 50 yards from the landing pad.

“Staff were not aware that this would cause a problem. Steps will be taken to make sure this does not happen in the future.”

Source:   http://www.express.co.uk

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