Robin Swann, Ulster Unionist MLA for North Antrim and Chair of the Stormont All Party Group on Congenital Heart Disease, has welcomed the news that pulse oximetry is to be trialled in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry.
Robin Swann MLA said:
“Pulse oximetry is a very straightforward, cost effective and non-invasive screening test that has the proven ability to detect life threatening congenital heart defects.
“It is used on new-borns to detect and identify early indicators of a range of medical problems such as heart and respiratory defects. I have repeatedly called on all three recent DUP Health Ministers to utilise the test, and brought the request to the Assembly in March 2014 in a debate which received all party support.
“It is deeply frustrating that for so long, successive Health Minsters and health authorities have failed to act and let such an opportunity pass them by.
“We were fortunate that our son Evan was diagnosed prenatally with a congenital heart defect, however many parents are not so fortunate. I welcome the introduction of this test even if it is only as a trial in Northern Ireland, as it was only two weeks ago that the Health Minister told me he was waiting on the results of the pilot in England and Wales before he would make a decision.
“For us now to be part of the trial demonstrates how important it is that we take every possible step to detect, help and support children with congenital heart conditions and their families, particularly since Northern Ireland has now lost our ability to perform heart surgery on children.”