Ministers special treatment

martic · 31-07-2013 08:47PM #1

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0731/465678-kathleen-lynch/

The minister was transferred by air ambulance from Letterkenny Hospital to Cork University Hospital for further treatment and tests.

Below quote from The Donegal Democrats Facebook page

A spokesman for the Minister said her condition was stabilised in Letterkenny General Hospital.

While I would wish Kathleen Lynch or anyone else that takes ill a speedy recovery this story puts a bad taste in my mouth, the fact that the coast guard helicopter was taken out of action to fly a minister who was in a 'stable condition' to another hospital is a total waste of money and valued time for such an important service in a busy coastal area. I would question if it happened the ordinary joe soap would we have the luxury of a helicopter being provided.

Gatling · 31-07-2013 09:09PM

martic wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0731/465678-kathleen-lynch/

Below quote from The Donegal Democrats Facebook page

While I would wish Kathleen Lynch or anyone else that takes ill a speedy recovery this story puts a bad taste in my mouth, the fact that the coast guard helicopter was taken out of action to fly a minister who was in a 'stable condition' to another hospital is a total waste of money and valued time for such an important service in a busy coastal area. I would question if it happened the ordinary joe soap would we have the luxury of a helicopter being provided.

So she had blood poisoning aka Septicemia a very serious life threatening condition and your moaning because she was transfered to another hospital who could better deal with the condition ,

Seriously you make it out she had a cold or flu

oldyouth · 31-07-2013 09:11PM

I think the OP is asking whether you or I would have got the helicopter if we developed the same condition

Captain_Generic · 31-07-2013 09:12PM

martic wrote: »

to fly a minister who was in a 'stable condition'

She was actually in 'comfortable condition', its like comparing chairs and hammocks

alchemist33 · 31-07-2013 09:12PM

Gatling wrote: »

So she had blood poisoning aka Septicemia a very serious life threatening condition and your moaning because she was transfered to another hospital who could better deal with the condition ,

Seriously you make it out she had a cold or flu

If it was life threatening, they wouldn't have flown her to what's almost the furthest possible hospital on the island from Letterkenny.

Gatling · 31-07-2013 09:13PM

oldyouth wrote: »

I think the OP is asking whether you or I would have got the helicopter if we developed the same condition

Life threatening condition transfer don't see the issue its probably a daily occurance for Joe so's like us

Mint Sauce · 31-07-2013 09:14PM

martic wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0731/465678-kathleen-lynch/

Below quote from The Donegal Democrats Facebook page

While I would wish Kathleen Lynch or anyone else that takes ill a speedy recovery this story puts a bad taste in my mouth, the fact that the coast guard helicopter was taken out of action to fly a minister who was in a 'stable condition' to another hospital is a total waste of money and valued time for such an important service in a busy coastal area. I would question if it happened the ordinary joe soap would we have the luxury of a helicopter being provided.

Another hospital? The Hospital that she was visiting, Letterkenny in Donegal, had its A&E under a foot of water last week, and is still closed as a result. Hence the transfer to another hospital.

mikemac1 · 31-07-2013 09:14PM

martic wrote: »

the fact that the coast guard helicopter was taken out of action to fly a minister who was in a 'stable condition' to another hospital is a total waste of money and valued time

Crews have to stay sharp. They might have welcomed a trip to Cork

Kidchameleon · 31-07-2013 09:14PM

If it was an ordinary Joe Soap, they would have died on a trolly by now

martic · 31-07-2013 09:16PM

Life threatening yes but as it states she was stabilised in Letterkenny, I still no matter what reply I receive from you will question if it was the normal joe soap would we receive the same treatment. Also if the need for a helicopter to be deployed for her could the air corps not provide it instead of taking the coast guard helicopter away.

oldyouth · 31-07-2013 09:21PM

Gatling wrote: »

Life threatening condition transfer don't see the issue its probably a daily occurance for Joe so's like us

Well that's the question we're asking here. Personally, I would be doubtful, even with top level health insurance

caustic 1 · 31-07-2013 09:22PM

[QUOTEAnother hospital? The Hospital that she was visiting, Letterkenny in Donegal, had its A&E under a foot of water last week, and is still closed as a result. Hence the transfer to another hospital][/QUOTE]

Then like the rest of us why not be transferred to Derry or Sligo?

Gatling · 31-07-2013 09:22PM

The condition of Septicemia can change in minute's quite literally from stable to gravely ill ,
Did anybody think the hospital requested immidate transfer to a hospital with an isolation ward /room
Makes sense that the rescue helicopter was sent

Annasopra · 31-07-2013 09:23PM

Dont see any issue here at all

martic · 31-07-2013 09:24PM

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Another hospital? The Hospital that she was visiting, Letterkenny in Donegal, had its A&E under a foot of water last week, and is still closed as a result. Hence the transfer to another hospital.

Are you saying then that Letterkenny hospital is in total shut down? why could she not have been transferred to Sligo, Derry or even Belfast, are the standards in these hospital not as good as the one closer to her home.

cameramonkey · 31-07-2013 09:25PM

martic wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0731/465678-kathleen-lynch/

Below quote from The Donegal Democrats Facebook page

While I would wish Kathleen Lynch or anyone else that takes ill a speedy recovery this story puts a bad taste in my mouth, the fact that the coast guard helicopter was taken out of action to fly a minister who was in a 'stable condition' to another hospital is a total waste of money and valued time for such an important service in a busy coastal area. I would question if it happened the ordinary joe soap would we have the luxury of a helicopter being provided.

How do you know they used the coast guard helicopter? I would think they used the air corps air ambulance service.

caustic 1 · 31-07-2013 09:25PM

So if I took Septicaemia I would be transferred by helicopter to Cork the other end of the island?

homer simpson · 31-07-2013 09:28PM

Gatling wrote: »

The condition of Septicemia can change in minute's quite literally from stable to gravely ill ,
Did anybody think the hospital requested immidate transfer to a hospital with an isolation ward /room
Makes sense that the rescue helicopter was sent

She was in ICU in Letterkenny.

The thing stinks. If it was to receive better treatment why was she not flown to Dublin. AFAIK Cork and letterkenny general hospitals are pretty much the same....

Wouldn't have anything to do with the fact her constituency is Cork :rolleyes:

you can be sure if I had the same misfortune in Cork I wouldn't be airlifted to Letterkenny.

homer simpson · 31-07-2013 09:32PM

cameramonkey wrote: »

How do you know they used the coast guard helicopter? I would think they used the air corps air ambulance service.

They did, circled LK earlier around 4 times then landed & took off. Photo taken from facebook. https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/q81/s720x720/1004476_704336446259420_1908404869_n.jpg Need anymore proof

Mint Sauce · 31-07-2013 09:33PM

caustic 1 wrote: »

Then like the rest of us why not be transferred to Derry or Sligo?

Derry and Sligo are suffering a huge knock on effect as a result. You could ask why then she wasn't transfered to Galway, or a midlands hospital, I dont know.

But getting back to Letterkenny, Its not just their A&E, but some of the Radiology department, its Laboratory, and med records. I would like to think, they were not equipped to treat her due to the flooding, and Derry and Sligo due to the knock on effect.

martic · 31-07-2013 09:34PM

cameramonkey wrote: »

How do you know they used the coast guard helicopter? I would think they used the air corps air ambulance service.

I could be wrong as it could be just a picture for the article.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=704336446259420&set=pb.112739298752474.-2207520000.1375306219.&type=3&theater

martic · 31-07-2013 09:42PM

Mint Sauce wrote: »

I would like to think, they were not equipped to treat her due to the flooding, and Derry and Sligo due to the knock on effect.

I don't for one second believe stretched or not that if her condition was so serious and Letterkenny were not equipped to deal with it that she would be turned away from either hospitals.

kyote00 · 31-07-2013 09:43PM

This post is the usual poorly informed twaddle from AH. Mixing RTE and facebook information seamlessly.

Its the HSE air ambulance service that was used (and not the coast guard) ....
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/no-decision-made-on-future-of-hse-s-air-ambulance-service-1.1407994

There are also several private companies that do this

Septicaemia is a life threatening condition. The HSE service is also regularly used for road accidents, climbers, hill walkers and many other difficult situations

hawkelady · 31-07-2013 09:45PM

If it is true that the coastguard was used to transfer her so she is near home I think it's disgusting .. I'd bet my bottom dollar the average joe wouldn't be afforded such privileges !!

I'd love to know if she requested the transfer or did inda make a call ??
If the air corp moved her I'd be less annoyed but would this be common practice for patients suffering from such illnesses ?
If its the former I see Irish politics hasn't changed much.

kyote00 · 31-07-2013 09:47PM

Ah **** I give up....

260 average joes

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/no-decision-made-on-future-of-hse-s-air-ambulance-service-1.1407994

hawkelady wrote: »

If it is true that the coastguard was used to transfer her so she is near home I think it's disgusting .. I'd bet my bottom dollar the average joe wouldn't be afforded such privileges !!

I'd love to know if she requested the transfer or did inda make a call ??
If the air corp moved her I'd be less annoyed but would this be common practice for patients suffering from such illnesses ?
If its the former I see Irish politics hasn't changed much.

homer simpson · 31-07-2013 09:49PM

kyote00 wrote: »

This post is the usual poorly informed twaddle from AH. Mixing RTE and facebook information seamlessly.

Its the HSE air ambulance service that was used (and not the coast guard) ....
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/no-decision-made-on-future-of-hse-s-air-ambulance-service-1.1407994

There are also several private companies that do this

The aircraft that done this was EI ICA which is the new SIKORSKY S92A coast guard helicopter based in Sligo. Either that or there was a second heli in to airlift the junior minister that I didn't hear or see.

Regardless of aircraft used it still begs the question if it was an average Joe Soap would the same thing happen?

kyote00 · 31-07-2013 09:50PM

260 Average joes in the last year.

homer simpson wrote: »

The aircraft that done this was EI ICA which is the new SIKORSKY S92A coast guard helicopter based in Sligo. Either that or there was a second heli in to airlift the junior minister that I didn't hear or see.

Regardless of aircraft used it still begs the question if it was an average Joe Soap would the same thing happen?

Lando Griffin · 31-07-2013 09:52PM

We need a poll to decide.

kyote00 · 31-07-2013 09:53PM

No, lets legislate :P

Lando Griffin wrote: »

We need a poll to decide.

hawkelady · 31-07-2013 09:54PM

kyote00 wrote: »

Ah **** I give up....

260 average joes

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/no-decision-made-on-future-of-hse-s-air-ambulance-service-1.1407994

Oh right so being stable in hospital and getting a helicopter ride so you can be near home is the exact same as someone having a heart attack and getting airlifted to hospital !!!

Hope your feeling better kathy !!!!!!

Ps , still begs the question if I take a bad turn while on holidays in Kerry and am admitted to a Kerry hospital , I'll look forward to a lift back to a Dublin hospital in a helicopter???

alchemist33 · 31-07-2013 09:56PM

kyote00 wrote: »

260 Average joes in the last year.

Indeed, any of us will get airlifted if the situation demands it. But how many of those were taken to the opposite end of the country, to their own constituencies, bypassing a number of perfectly functional hospitals along the way?

martic · 31-07-2013 10:08PM

kyote00 wrote: »

This post is the usual poorly informed twaddle from AH. Mixing RTE and facebook information seamlessly.

Its the HSE air ambulance service that was used (and not the coast guard)

You use the term 'twaddle' and then link an article about a service, you provided nothing to back up your claim that it was the air ambulance and not the coast guard even though an eye witness to the air craft stated it earlier. Come on Kyote if you can prove your statement to be true I stand corrected.

Also over the years I have known a lot of people that worked for the air corps and air sea rescue teams so the 260 joe soaps you refer to so I would be aware of the extremity of those cases. I still believe there was special treatment shown in this case.

kyote00 · 31-07-2013 10:20PM

Its your article that states "air ambulance". Just because the heli is red and white doesn't mean its a coast guard.

Lots of the pics quoted in the media are also file pictures so may not be the actual machine.

Also, The Irish Times article mentions .....

"The crews of Medevac 112 have completed more than 260 missions since the scheme was launched. The Irish Coast Guard has carried out in excess of 40 missions on behalf of the EAS because it was better placed to respond in terms of location and flying times"

So climb back down off your high horse ---- before the fall off and need EAS:P

martic wrote: »

You use the term 'twaddle' and then link an article about a service, you provided nothing to back up your claim that it was the air ambulance and not the coast guard even though an eye witness to the air craft stated it earlier. Come on Kyote if you can prove your statement to be true I stand corrected.

Also over the years I have known a lot of people that worked for the air corps and air sea rescue teams so the 260 joe soaps you refer to so I would be aware of the extremity of those cases. I still believe there was special treatment shown in this case.

Noreen1 · 31-07-2013 10:24PM

martic wrote: »

Are you saying then that Letterkenny hospital is in total shut down? why could she not have been transferred to Sligo, Derry or even Belfast, are the standards in these hospital not as good as the one closer to her home.

Letterkenny hospital is actually only taking admissions to Maternity, and some (Limited!) Paediatric cases.

There are no diagnostic facilities functional in the hospital, since Radiology and Pathology are both inoperative! So, while 40% of the hospital may not have been flooded - that 40% is actually very limited in what it can do! That's the plain, unvarnished, truth, minus the spin!

I wish the Minister no harm. Like anyone else who is ill, I hope she has a speedy recovery.

Having said that, I think it's unfortunate that Ministers, or anyone else in privileged positions, don't have to endure the endless waits that everyone else suffers! God forbid that they might have to wait up to 10 hours for treatment in Sligo or Altnagelvin, like anyone else that takes ill in Donegal atm. (When they get sent to hospital at all, that is!)
If they did, you might see the Health service being overhauled with a greater sense of urgency than is the case at the moment!

Septicaemia can be a life-threatening illness, it's true.
However, if her condition was such that it precluded treatment re. waiting times in Sligo or Altnagelvin, surely Mayo or Galway could provide adequate treatment?
After all, if her life was genuinely in danger, as some here have suggested, then the nearest hospital with facilities to treat would have been the obvious choice - right?

Then again, she's one of the chosen - so, obviously not!:mad:

Dyr · 31-07-2013 10:31PM

I can see absolutely no possibility that the minsters position was abused to ensure that she was airlifted back to her constituency

This is Ireland that class of carry on could never happen here

Plus she's a Labour TD and we all know that they are beyond reproach.

martic · 31-07-2013 10:33PM

kyote00 wrote: »

Just because the heli is red and white doesn't mean its a coast guard.

Well having flown in a lot of the helicopters that provide these services and know the distinct sound and appearance of the one that flew over my house today not far from letterkenny I'm pritty sure this red and white helicopter was the coast guard so until you prove me wrong I will stay up on the horse for a wee while longer

Gatling · 31-07-2013 10:34PM

Some people must be desperate

jimmad · 31-07-2013 10:36PM

The rest of us would be transfered by ambulance not coast guard helicopter

Noreen1 · 31-07-2013 10:37PM

Gatling wrote: »

Some people must be desperate

Ok. I'll bite. For what?

Grimreaper666 · 31-07-2013 10:41PM

A helicopter was totally unacceptable for Kathleen Lynch, where the hell was the government Lear jet? Don't tell me it's on loan to the Lotto again for their new ads, ffs!!

kyote00 · 31-07-2013 10:48PM

Also, The Irish Times article mentions .....

"The crews of Medevac 112 have completed more than 260 missions since the scheme was launched. The Irish Coast Guard has carried out in excess of 40 missions on behalf of the EAS because it was better placed to respond in terms of location and flying times"

Its the second sentence, "The Irish Coast Guard carry out missions on behalf on the EAS......"

So if it was red/white --- it was still operating a EAS mission .....

Anyway, my pager has gone off, so I have to fly

I'll leave ye to it

martic wrote: »

Well having flown in a lot of the helicopters that provide these services and know the distinct sound and appearance of the one that flew over my house today not far from letterkenny I'm pritty sure this red and white helicopter was the coast guard so until you prove me wrong I will stay up on the horse for a wee while longer

naughtysmurf · 31-07-2013 11:08PM

Kidchameleon wrote: »

If it was an ordinary Joe Soap, they would have died on a trolly by now

Don't be silly, an ordinary Joe wouldn't have got on a trolley until at least Saturday

donegaldude · 01-08-2013 10:43AM

from the coast guards facebook page:

Overnight missions:

Sligo Coast Guard heli carried out a medevac of a female from Letterkenny Hospital to Cork Hospital.

from donegaldaily:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HVu2HbahU0

Christ the Redeemer · 01-08-2013 10:44AM

Sure, if they didn't receive this special treatment they might as well be in the private sector with the rest of us suckers.

gctest50 · 01-08-2013 10:51AM

homer simpson wrote: »

Regardless of aircraft used it still begs the question if it was an average Joe Soap would the same thing happen?

yip

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/woman-airlifted-after-suffering-serious-injury-on-croagh-patrick-29454770.html

TheLastMohican · 01-08-2013 11:40AM

With the regularity in which helicopters fall out of the sky, she was probably safer in Donegal

adam88 · 01-08-2013 12:05PM

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Another hospital? The Hospital that she was visiting, Letterkenny in Donegal, had its A&E under a foot of water last week, and is still closed as a result. Hence the transfer to another hospital.

Yes hence the transfer but not to cork. Maybe Sligo or Galway but not the opposite end of the country

Dyr · 01-08-2013 12:10PM

Junior minister for roflcopters

snubbleste · 01-08-2013 12:28PM

She should've been transferred to the nearest hospital with the resources, and that would not be Cork.
Anyone emailed her constituency office to ask her staff about this 'abuse of scarce resources' ?
http://www.labour.ie/kathleenlynch/ (Minister of State, Department of Health)

muffler · 01-08-2013 12:40PM

Anyone email her office to ask how she is?

martic · 01-08-2013 12:42PM

muffler wrote: »

Anyone email her office to ask how she is?

Get back to the Mayo GAA forum

Ministers special treatment

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