The HSE has announced the membership of a review group who will examine the emergency response to the incident in which 23-month-old Vakaris Martinaitis, was fatally injured in Midleton in Co Cork last week.
The four person review team includes Dr David McManus who is the Medical Director of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Tracey Barron who is Clinical Studies Officer with the International Academy of Emergency Despatch based in the UK.
The review team which will finalise its terms of reference this week also includes Pat Mooney, Control Manager in the National Ambulance Service in North Leinster and Dr Mel Bates of Medical Director of the GP out of hours service in North Dublin.
The child had to be taken to hospital in a private car because no ambulance was . Vakaris Martinaitis from The Paddocks, Castleredmond in Midleton, Co Cork, died at Cork University Hospital last Wednesday, two days after being rushed there from his home by his neighbour, former Cork hurler, Kevin Hennessy in his private car.
The boy, who would have celebrated his second birthday on Saturday, had suffered serious head injuries after falling from an upstairs window of the family home.
Mr Hennessy, coming to the assistance of parents, Vidas and Aukse, rang 999 but was told no ambulance was available to go to Midleton. After taking the child to SouthDoc in Midleton, he took him and his father to Cork University Hospital in his own car.
The incident led to immediate calls on the HSE to clarify the situation and on Friday night, the HSE South issued a statement in which it confirmed that an emergency ambulance had been immediately available to attend the incident.
