Health bosses in Northern Ireland are due to meet to discuss the case of a 14-year-old schoolgirl, whose family was not advised she had swine flu until a week after her funeral.

BBC Northern Ireland reports that Orla O’Kane – who had cerebral palsy – is the seventh person from Northern Ireland to have died from the H1N1 virus, although of the seven victims one died in England and another in Spain.

The schoolgirl’s family is now concerned for the health of those who attended Orla’s funeral –another member of the family is now also suffering from swine flu.

Chief medical officer for Northern Ireland, Dr Michael McBride, has said he will convene a meeting of the primary care trust involved – The Western Trust – with the Department of Health and the Public Health Agency.

The Western Trust has already said that, in the future, it will take steps to prevent ‘similar delays’ in information being passed on.

Dr McBride said:

‘It is extremely regrettable that there was a delay in the family receiving the confirmation of swine flu – particularly at a time when they were already going through such a personal tragedy.

‘Our first priority must be to find out the exact details of what happened and how the delay occurred, and to make sure that this does not happen again.’

There are now five confirmed cases of the virus at the school Orla attended – Foyle View Special School: one child is in hospital, although three children have recovered

The Western Trust issued a statement in response to the family’s concerns:

‘The trust is reviewing the issues that have been raised to fully understand how delays occurred confirming that swine flu was present – and will agree measures to prevent similar circumstances in the future.

‘Clearly these delays caused further distress for the family and that is very regrettable.’

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