Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Health if, in relation to the failure of systems to have a liver transplant patient (details supplied) delivered to London in time, he will investigate the way and the reason this occurred; if State agencies, Health Service Executive and Department of Transport are culpable; the measures he will put in place to ensure it does not recur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19387/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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An air ambulance service is currently provided by the Air Corps through a service level agreement between the Department of Health and the Department of Defence. The Air Corps service provides for: inter-hospital transfer of patients with spinal or other serious injury or illness; neonates requiring immediate medical intervention in Ireland; patients requiring specialised emergency treatment in the UK; organ retrieval teams within Ireland; and paediatric patients requiring immediate medical intervention in Ireland.

I have asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), to co-ordinate an inquiry into the events and circumstances surrounding the incident referred to by the Deputy. HIQA will work with all of the relevant agencies involved. Its inquiry will clarify the facts that led to this situation and will report to me with recommendations on how best to operate transport arrangements to ensure such a problem does not occur in future.

Once again I would like to express my deep concern and sympathy to the family over the traumatic events that have led to this lost opportunity. It would not be appropriate to go into any further detail on this matter until HIQA has published its findings.