HealtH Matters 39
amBulancE sErvicEs
natiOnaL neOnataL
“the main function
transPOrt PrOgramme
of the advanced
the National Neonatal transport
Programme (NNtP) is a rapid response
paramedic is to provide
service for the stabilisation and
advanced life support
transportation of sick and premature
newborn infants who require transfer to
(als) to patients. the
tertiary centres nationally. the aim of the
programme is to bring to the point of
role of the paramedic
retrieval a level of care akin to that of a
has been extended
tertiary neonatal centre. the programme
was established in response to previous
to deal with acute
Irish studies that showed that vulnerable
premature/ill infants were often arriving to
common emergencies
tertiary centres in poor condition because
such as shortness of
they were not being afforded specialised
care during transport.
breath, diabetes and
the NNtP provides this special care.
referrals come from hospitals throughout
seizures”
Ireland to the transport team on call
for that day via a dedicated transport aDvanceD ParameDics fOr
‘hotline’. this transport team, comprising nOrth east, miD West anD
a neonatal registrar and a neonatal nurse, West cOrk
is dispatched to the referring hospital, in as part of the reconfiguration of
a custom designed and fitted ambulance, services, the Hse is investing in
driven by one of the NNtP’s dedicated additional resources in its ambulance
drivers. the option of air ambulance is also service in the North east, Mid West
available by way of the Irish air Corps and a and West Cork. teams of advanced
dedicated air transport module. On arrival, paramedics are being introduced.
the team provides intensive care at the advanced paramedics respond to
referring hospital, prior to, as well as during emergency calls in rapid response
the transport to the relevant tertiary centre. vehicles (rrVs) and are an extra support
Clinicians in both “referring” and to existing paramedics and fleets
“receiving” hospitals have been surveyed based in these areas. they have many
as to their satisfaction with the service, years experience in the ambulance + advanced Paramedics based in
and the results are very positive. Clinical services and have undertaken high
monaghan – mattie mcshane, chris
audit to date shows that the incidence of level paramedic training which is
connelly, Pat smyth, Gary mckenna.
morbidity is reduced when stabilisation and internationally recognised. this enables
transfer are undertaken by the NNtP when them to perform an additional range of
compared to “own-hospital” transfers. In complex procedures such as:
addition the NNtP provides a centralised, • Intubation (gold standard airway);
integrated transport programme that during advanced cardiac life support
facilitates the collection of transport data procedures the advanced paramedic
for systematic review and audit and also an can place a sterile tube into the
outreach education programme to support trachea (or throat).
its clinical objectives. the website http: • Cardiac resuscitation including CPR,
www.nntp.ie provides information on the defibrillation and drug administration.
service. the National Neonatal transport • I.V. fluid resuscitation; administration of
Programme (NNtP) is now conducting fluids to support critically ill patients.
more than 300 critical care transports • Pain management; administration of
a year. drugs to relieve pain.
• Chest decompression; placement
health matters is 4.indd 39 27/11/2009 20:40:01
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