HOSPITAL DELAY: A four-month-old Co Tipperary baby, who has been waiting eight weeks for an urgent operation, was transported to Temple Street Children's Hospital, Dublin yesterday afternoon. Georgina O'Halloran reports.
The baby's mother, Ms Rosemary Lawlor (21), was informed that her baby daughter was being admitted to the hospital yesterday morning and would be operated on later this week.
"I'm delighted. It's like a brick lifted off my shoulders," said Ms Lawlor.
Abie Lawlor from Cahir suffers from a condition called sleep apnea and needs an urgent tracheotomy operation to enable her to breathe by herself.
The condition prevents her from breathing when she sleeps and she is currently on a ventilator.
Ms Lawlor was informed of her daughter's need for the operation two months ago.
She was also told that it would be carried out within two weeks, at either Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin or at Temple Street Children's University Hospital.
"Then we were left waiting," the baby's grandmother, Mrs Irene Long, told The Irish Times yesterday.
"It has been very stressful up to now," Ms Lawlor said. "And it's only because it was in the papers that it was pushed forward," she believed.
"But the operation will give her a new life. She'll be able to breathe herself, she will be able to start solid foods and will be more mobile."
Abie would have the operation some day this week, she added, and then be transferred to Crumlin at some stage afterwards.
Yesterday Mrs Long also expressed her disgust that her daughter had to go public to highlight Abie's case.
"If the media hadn't been involved, she would have been left waiting and she is an emergency. It's a shame that it had to come to this."
"She's been in a lot of discomfort since she was born. She has a tube down her throat and the tracheotomy is going to give her a lot of relief," she said.
Abie was born in Clonmel on March 3rd and was immediately brought to Waterford Regional Hospital where she remained until her transfer by ambulance yesterday.
Independent TD for South Tipperary, Mr Seamus Healy, who raised the matter in the Dáil, said he did not understand why it was not possible to transfer her earlier.
"At least a week ago, all the arrangements were in place. It would appear that there was some difficulty between the two hospitals over which of them should carry out the treatment," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Paul Cunniffe, chief executive officer at Temple Street said he did not wish to comment on the reasons for the delay.