Case Study – Cross-border paediatric cardiac care
The client had been living in Armagh and moved permanently to Donegal with their 10- year- old daughter who has congenital heart disease.
Their daughter had cardiac surgery performed at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Dublin and on-going post-operative care was being provided by the Children’s Heart Centre at the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast, all under the auspices of the Congenital Heart Disease All Island Network – Paediatric Cardiology Services*.
The client was extremely concerned about the inherent travel difficulties and the potential effect the move would have on their daughter’s on-going care.
With the assistance of HSE EU and North South Unit, arrangements were put in place to provide on-going care to the clients’ daughter at the Cardiac Unit, Altnagelvin Hospital Derry (20 minutes from their new home) and all providers involved will co-ordinate through the cardiac team there.
It is a great example of co-operation between health providers North and South in order to create better access to healthcare services, particularly for those living in border regions.
*The All-Island CHD Network, which was established in 2015 by then Ministers for Health in Northern Ireland and Ireland, provides high quality and timely access to specialist cardiac services for all children and young people on the island of Ireland.
Read more:
- Children’s Heartbeat Trust – Support for Families / Travelling for Surgery
- Children’s Heartbeat Trust – All Island CHD Network
- Health Minister launches all-island congenital heart disease research programme with Ulster University and partners / Ulster University
- Border People – All Case Studies and FAQs
Page last checked: 17 November 2022
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