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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Best chance' for swine flu woman | 'Best chance' for swine flu woman |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A pregnant woman with swine flu is getting the "best possible treatment" after being flown to Sweden, according to the Scottish health secretary. | |
| Nicola Sturgeon said she had had a very rare reaction to the H1N1 virus. | |
| The 26-year-old patient, who is critically ill, was taken to Crosshouse Hospital, in Kilmarnock, last week, where she had been put on a ventilator. | |
| She was transferred to Stockholm on Thursday because no beds were available in the UK for the procedure she needed. | |
| The Ayrshire woman needs a procedure in which her blood will be circulated out of her body and oxygen added artificially. | The Ayrshire woman needs a procedure in which her blood will be circulated out of her body and oxygen added artificially. |
| It is known as extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and involves a machine taking over the function of the patient's heart and lungs. | It is known as extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and involves a machine taking over the function of the patient's heart and lungs. |
| The UK has a national ECMO unit in Leicester, to which Scottish patients would normally be sent. | The UK has a national ECMO unit in Leicester, to which Scottish patients would normally be sent. |
| We buy some time for the lungs to get betterÂ…but she has to get better by herself Dr Palle PalmerKarolinska University Hospital, Stockholm | We buy some time for the lungs to get betterÂ…but she has to get better by herself Dr Palle PalmerKarolinska University Hospital, Stockholm |
| However, all five beds in the unit were in use. | However, all five beds in the unit were in use. |
| Before the woman was transferred, a medical team from Sweden came to Scotland to assess her. She was then accompanied by the Swedish doctors on a private flight from Prestwick in Ayrshire. | Before the woman was transferred, a medical team from Sweden came to Scotland to assess her. She was then accompanied by the Swedish doctors on a private flight from Prestwick in Ayrshire. |
| Ms Sturgeon told BBC Scotland: "She is now getting treatment that gives her the best possible chance of survival." | Ms Sturgeon told BBC Scotland: "She is now getting treatment that gives her the best possible chance of survival." |
| She said doctors were pleased with how the pregnant woman had coped with the journey and she said the treatment "might and hopefully will save her life". | She said doctors were pleased with how the pregnant woman had coped with the journey and she said the treatment "might and hopefully will save her life". |
| She added: "It is a highly-specialised procedure and that is why given a bed was found for her in Sweden the decision was taken by her clinical team to recommend transfer there." | She added: "It is a highly-specialised procedure and that is why given a bed was found for her in Sweden the decision was taken by her clinical team to recommend transfer there." |
| Dr Palle Palmer, from Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, told the BBC the treatment would take pressure off the patient's lungs. | Dr Palle Palmer, from Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, told the BBC the treatment would take pressure off the patient's lungs. |
| "We buy some time for the lungs to get better . . . but she has to get better by herself," he said. | "We buy some time for the lungs to get better . . . but she has to get better by herself," he said. |
| Patient swaps | Patient swaps |
| He added it was common for patients to be transferred to Sweden from other countries and they also sent patients abroad for this procedure. | He added it was common for patients to be transferred to Sweden from other countries and they also sent patients abroad for this procedure. |
| "We have been swapping patients for 10 years. | "We have been swapping patients for 10 years. |
| "We send about 10 patients per year out and bring in 10-15 patients." | "We send about 10 patients per year out and bring in 10-15 patients." |
| Dr Robert Masterton, executive medical director of NHS Ayrshire and Arran said: "Once an ECMO bed was identified in Sweden, our intensive care specialists worked closely with our Swedish colleagues to make sure the patient was stable before being transferred." | Dr Robert Masterton, executive medical director of NHS Ayrshire and Arran said: "Once an ECMO bed was identified in Sweden, our intensive care specialists worked closely with our Swedish colleagues to make sure the patient was stable before being transferred." |
| He added: "The family have been fully involved in this decision and support this referral. They have asked for privacy while they concentrate on the patient's treatment and recovery." | He added: "The family have been fully involved in this decision and support this referral. They have asked for privacy while they concentrate on the patient's treatment and recovery." |
| The health secretary stressed this particular case was unusual. | The health secretary stressed this particular case was unusual. |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "It remains the case that for the overwhelming majority of people who get this virus the symptoms are very mild and they will make a full recovery within a matter of days without any complications whatsoever." | Ms Sturgeon said: "It remains the case that for the overwhelming majority of people who get this virus the symptoms are very mild and they will make a full recovery within a matter of days without any complications whatsoever." |