The Gozo General Hospital helicopter was available when doctors decided to fly a patient to Malta last month, according to the findings of an independent inquiry.

The board, appointed at the request of Health Minister Chris Fearne and which was led by Professor Joe Cacciattolo, looked into claims that the Gozitan man had died because the helicopter was out of action.

Sections of the media had claimed that Steward Healthcare, the operator of the Gozo General Hospital, was unable to fly the man to Mater Dei Hospital because its helicopter was unavailable at the time. The man, who had suffered a heart attack on 24 August, was reportedly taken to the Gozo hospital at 10am, with doctors ordering that he be transferred to Malta “immediately”, but he only arrived at Mater Dei Hospital at 4.30pm. He died a few hours later.

The inquiry report said: “The procedures followed were in line with established normal practice and protocols. No difficulties were encountered during the transfer of the patient from GGH to MDH. The patient was only transferred to MDH once the attending physician considered that it was safe to do so. The air ambulance helicopter was available when a decision was taken that the patient needed transfer to MDH.”

The health ministry said the board had also found that the arrangement between the Gozo General Hospital and Gozo Channel was based on normal practices and recommended that it be formalised. 

 

File photo