Please note that these guidelines are currently under review and will be updated in due course
Summary
Inter-hospital transfer of the critically ill patient in Ireland involves the use of a transfer team, usually led by the consultant anaesthetist at the base hospital. This absence of anaesthesia personnel from their base hospital has subsequent harmful effects on the department’s ability to provide the usual breadth of service locally. This document provides a broad set of guidelines to consultant anaesthetists and their trainees in referring hospitals on how to transfer patients safely and efficiently. It advises how to maintain the safest possible service at the base hospital in the absence of the resident non-consultant hospital doctor anaesthetist.
The document includes:
- Reasons for transfer in Ireland
- Selection of patients requiring anaesthesia care during transfer
- The transfer itself
- The base hospital during transfer
- Post transfer considerations