An inquiry into whether a patient at the Gozo hospital died because no helicopter was available to transfer him to Malta has called for “formal protocols” to be established for such transfers.
Shadow Gozo minister Chris Said accused the government on Wednesday of orchestrating a “cover-up” over the patient’s death.
Dr Said’s accusations led the Health Ministry to publish the conclusions of an internal inquiry carried out following the patient’s death in August.
The shadow minister said in Parliament that the patient died because there was no helicopter available to transfer the patient to Malta in a timely manner.
Read: 'Cover-up' of patient's death due to helicopter service shortcoming continuing - MP
Dr Said insisted in Parliament that when the man was first admitted to hospital at 10am on August 24 suffering heart attack symptoms, doctors ordered that he be rushed to Malta by helicopter.
According to the inquiry conclusions published by the ministry, the patient was afforded “timely and excellent medical care” both while in Gozo and in Malta
The MP said no helicopter was available at the time the order was given, so the patient was instead transferred to the Gozo hospital’s coronary care unit.
At 4.30pm the patient suffered another heart attack. By this time, seven hours later, the helicopter had finally arrived, Dr Said claimed.
According to the inquiry conclusions published by the ministry, the patient was afforded “timely and excellent medical care” both while in Gozo and in Malta.
The inquiry said that arrangements were in place to ensure that a helicopter was always available if a patient transfer was needed. The helicopter was available when a decision was taken that the patient needed to be transferred to Malta, the inquiry said.
While the inquiry did not find any wrongdoing, the board said protocol documents for patient transfers looked very informal, with no document management features like reference numbers, who prepared and approved the document, and when the next review was due.
The inquiry said no formal and official agreement was in place with Gozo Channel to give priority to the transfer of patients, as this was a “traditional arrangement” done on a case-by-case basis.
It was recommended that a formal agreement be drawn up with Gozo Channel to give priority to patients being transferred.
The inquiry board also said a set of key performance indicators should be drawn up, against which the service being offered to Gozo hospital for the transfer of patients could be measured.