Sick-child transport system urged

Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Patterson has asked the Health Ministry to look at a transport system for sick children after the death of a Westport toddler.

Jack Maximillian Bull, aged two, died of severe viral encephalitis in the Grey Base Hospital's critical care unit in June 2001.

He fell ill two days before and had been in hospital two days.

Mr Patterson said yesterday that he had asked the ministry to consider the need for a national paediatric transport system linked to Auckland's Starship Hospital.

"No individual practitioners breached the code of rights, nor was West Coast District Health Board or Grey Hospital found in breach of the code," Mr Patterson said.

However, the case did highlight how the health system responded to the patient transfer needs in isolated regions.

"The issues that I raised with the ministry obviously raised national policy issues, and that's something ultimately for the ministry to review."

Mr Patterson said he had investigated similar cases where geographical isolation had reduced patient access to care at large base or tertiary hospitals.

"We certainly see issues about the transfer of patients - not just child patients - from outlying provincial hospitals. They are not unique issues but there are some unique circumstances around the geography of the West Coast."

He had asked both the West Coast board and the Canterbury one to brush up on their joint policy and procedures for the management and planned transfer of child patients.

"There were certainly some lessons to be learned from this very sad case. It does highlight the need for a review of policies, and that's what I've recommended," Mr Patterson said.

Jack Bull was admitted to Westport's Buller Hospital on June 26, 2001, with suspected meningitis. He was transferred to Greymouth the same day. Grey Hospital staff had difficulty making a diagnosis and eventually decided to transfer him to Christchurch Hospital.

An air ambulance arrived at Greymouth from Christchurch on June 28, but did not depart because medics questioned whether Jack should be going to Christchurch Hospital or Starship Hospital.

Starship's retrieval team was called and was on its way to Greymouth when Jack died.

- NZPA