RTE News: 28th October 2014
A major fundraising drive kicks off across West Cork this weekend to secure a top-of-the-range emergency response vehicle for a doctor who has saved dozens of lives — in his spare time.
During 95 after-hours call-outs this year, Dr Jason Van Der Velde has restarted seven hearts, delivered three babies, and saved on average two lives every month in rural West Cork.
Those statistics relate only to his voluntary efforts in the region — all performed after he had finished his day job saving lives in the emergency department of Cork University Hospital.
A pre-hospital emergency medicine and critical care retrieval physician, he manages the HSE’s National 24-hour Emergency Telemedical Support Unit, Medico Cork, which provides emergency advice and support to the crew of vessels at sea, and to islanders.
However, he has also been a volunteer with West Cork Rapid Response unit since its inception in 2009.
The voluntary group works in partnership with the HSE medical emergency services in the region, parts of which are more than 190km from Cork City.