Trust 'regrets' swine flu delay

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The story is reported in the Sunday Journal newspaper

The Western Health Trust has said it will review how delays occurred confirming that a Londonderry teenager's death was swine-flu related.

Orla O'Kane, 14, died a week ago, but it was claimed her family were not told she had the virus until two days after a large crowd attended her wake and funeral.

The Trust said it will agree measures to prevent it happening again.

It said it regretted that the delays had caused her family further distress.

Foyle assembly member Pat Ramsey met with representatives from the Western Trust on Saturday to address concerns that it had been too slow in providing public information about the teenager's death.

He said Orla's family were worried because her school friends and elderly neighbours were among those who had attended her wake.

He added that another member of the O'Kane family is now also thought to be suffering from swine flu.

'Reducing exposure'

"This girl died on Sunday evening with medical staff in attendance," Mr Ramsey said.

"Clearly, the family would have handled the wake and funeral arrangements very differently if the cause of death had been confirmed to them in good time.

SDLP assembly member Pat Ramsey criticised the health authorities

"Concern for friends and neighbours has now added to their deep distress at the loss of a very special young girl. Given the nature of swine flu, everyone appreciates the need for caution in diagnosis.

"But it is equally important to communicate quickly and efficiently with everyone who can play a part in reducing exposure to the virus, and I have to say that was not done in this case."

'Saddened'

In a statement, the Western Trust expresses its deepest sympathy to the O'Kane family.

It said their daughter was "well known to Trust staff over many years" and added that they were "very saddened" by her death.

The statement continued: "The Trust is reviewing the issues that have been raised to fully understand how delays occurred confirming that swine flu was present, and will agree measures to prevent similar circumstances in the future.

"Clearly these delays caused further distress for the family and that is very regrettable."

In terms of risk to anyone who had been in contact with the child, the Trust said that "the existing advice still applies".

It said anyone who thinks that they may have symptoms of swine flu should contact their GP or out-of-hours service by telephone for advice and assessment.

Orla was a pupil at Foyle View Special School.

Her deaths brings to seven the total number of people from Northern Ireland who have died while suffering from the virus.

Five died in NI while the other two victims died in England and Spain.