Vol. 567 No. 7
205 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Health and Children when the long overdue all-Ireland feasibility study on the need for an all-Ireland helicopter emergency medical service will be published; if his attention has been drawn to the bad effect on the lives and health of Irish people as a consequence of the continuing lack of this vital service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15042/03]
The feasibility study on the costs and benefits associated with the introduction of a dedicated helicopter emergency medical service, which was commissioned by one of the groups established under the Good Friday Agreement to examine areas of planning for major emergencies, is expected to be concluded shortly. The findings of this study will be considered by my Department, and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Belfast, in the context of developments in the emergency medical services generally.
Any resulting initiatives in relation to the development of a HEMS will need to complement other pre-hospital services such as the ground ambulance service, first responder schemes and other emergency schemes. Air ambulance services for emergency cases which cannot be safely conveyed by road ambulance are provided at present by the Air Corps and the marine search and rescue helicopter services of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. I assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to the further development of emergency medical services in the context of the recommendations of the 2001 strategic review, the 1993 report of the review group along with the continuation of the implementation of the cardiovascular health strategy.
