Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
This article is not related to H1N1 but was posted to point out the importance of emergency response.
Labrador death triggers medical flight concerns
Mother says baby died waiting for air ambulance to arrive
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 27, 2009
CBC News
A Labrador City woman, whose premature baby died 90 minutes after birth, says she is looking for answers about why help didn't arrive sooner for her and her infant son.
Peggy Mitchell, who was experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, went into labour six weeks early on July 14.
"I was just panicking, because I knew the baby was coming," Mitchell told CBC News.
Her son Owen was born the next morning, but he had many medical complications, including heart trouble.
Doctors at the hospital in Labrador City, who had already planned for Mitchell to deliver the baby in St. John's where there are more specialized services, called for an air ambulance that evening, shortly after she arrived at the hospital.
But it was about 11 hours before the plane reached western Labrador.
Mitchell said by then, it was too late.
"I was just an emotional wreck. Deep down, you hope for the best. Where we were living and everything that was going on, in my heart, I knew that they weren't going to save him."
A divisional manager with the medical transport program at Eastern Health said the delay happened because the only plane available at the time was already in the air, on its way to St. John's from St. Anthony.
Corey Banks said that flight had to land in St. John's, pick up the medical team, refuel and then head to Labrador.
"From our perspective, we processed the call within our expected timeframe and our flight team was available and ready to respond. Unfortunately, we did not have an aircraft that could get us out of St. John's within our normal timeframe."
Mitchell said she doesn't blame the people who operate the air ambulance program, but she said what happened to her is unacceptable.
Dr. Tom Costello, a member of Mitchell's medical team, said changes are needed so there won't be a repeat of what happened.
After Mitchell's experience, he met with the air ambulance organization, along with the provincial health minister, to talk about ways to improve the service.
Costello said he'd like to see a second medical flight team in place, and he wants an air ambulance stationed in Labrador, because of its isolation.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundla...0/27/nl-mitchell-pregnant-271009.html?ref=rss
Labrador death triggers medical flight concerns
Mother says baby died waiting for air ambulance to arrive
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 27, 2009
CBC News
A Labrador City woman, whose premature baby died 90 minutes after birth, says she is looking for answers about why help didn't arrive sooner for her and her infant son.
Peggy Mitchell, who was experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, went into labour six weeks early on July 14.
"I was just panicking, because I knew the baby was coming," Mitchell told CBC News.
Her son Owen was born the next morning, but he had many medical complications, including heart trouble.
Doctors at the hospital in Labrador City, who had already planned for Mitchell to deliver the baby in St. John's where there are more specialized services, called for an air ambulance that evening, shortly after she arrived at the hospital.
But it was about 11 hours before the plane reached western Labrador.
Mitchell said by then, it was too late.
"I was just an emotional wreck. Deep down, you hope for the best. Where we were living and everything that was going on, in my heart, I knew that they weren't going to save him."
A divisional manager with the medical transport program at Eastern Health said the delay happened because the only plane available at the time was already in the air, on its way to St. John's from St. Anthony.
Corey Banks said that flight had to land in St. John's, pick up the medical team, refuel and then head to Labrador.
"From our perspective, we processed the call within our expected timeframe and our flight team was available and ready to respond. Unfortunately, we did not have an aircraft that could get us out of St. John's within our normal timeframe."
Mitchell said she doesn't blame the people who operate the air ambulance program, but she said what happened to her is unacceptable.
Dr. Tom Costello, a member of Mitchell's medical team, said changes are needed so there won't be a repeat of what happened.
After Mitchell's experience, he met with the air ambulance organization, along with the provincial health minister, to talk about ways to improve the service.
Costello said he'd like to see a second medical flight team in place, and he wants an air ambulance stationed in Labrador, because of its isolation.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundla...0/27/nl-mitchell-pregnant-271009.html?ref=rss