asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances in the Republic fitted with radio telephones; the counties that have such vehicles; and what action he intends to take to ensure that all ambulances are fitted with radio telephones.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ambulance Services.
70.
Mr. O'Malley
The Dublin, Cork and Dún Laoghaire Fire Brigades provide an accident ambulance service in their respective areas and their ambulances are fitted with radio-telephone equipment. An ambulance based on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, by arrangement with the Dublin Health Authority is also radio controlled. In all other areas health authorities were requested by me on the 20th January last to take early steps to equip their ambulances with radio-telephones. They were informed on 26th February that expenditure on such equipment would be recouped to them from the Exchequer.
I must admit to some disappointment that with this encouragement health authorities have not made more rapid progress in having the necessary equipment installed. I am communicating with health authorities forthwith to ensure that effective action is taken by them as a matter of urgency.
Could the Minister tell us the number of local authorities at the present time which have adopted radio-telephone communication in their ambulance services?
Mr. O'Malley
I told the Deputy that Dublin, Cork and Dún Laoghaire Fire Brigades provide an accident ambulance service and their ambulances are fitted with radio-telephone equipment. There is also an ambulance based on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, which is also radio-telephone controlled.
Would the Minister say if the reason local authorities are not anxious to fit this equipment is that they claim the telephones are of very little use if they cannot contact their drivers from long distances in built-up areas? Would the Minister take it from me that that is so?
Mr. O'Malley
No; I was not aware of that.
Will the Minister take it from me that that is why most local authorities are not prepared to go to the expense of equipping ambulances with radio-telephones?
Mr. O'Malley
I should be very surprised at that. May I say that a number of areas, which are not equipped with radio-telephones in their ambulance services, despite the fact that my Department is prepared to pay 100 per cent of the cost of equipping the ambulances, would not be operating in built-up areas at all.
Is the Minister aware that most of these ambulances come into Dublin with patients and the main use that can be made of this radio-telephone is to redirect the ambulances from Dublin either to other hospitals or to pick up patients on the way home? Is the Minister further aware that the manufacturers of the equipment say they cannot guarantee any reception over these telephones in built-up areas?
Mr. O'Malley
I am not satisfied that that is so.
Would the Minister check?
Mr. O'Malley
I will.
Could the Minister say what radius does this telephone operate over?
Mr. O'Malley
I am not an expert in the matter. I should have to check on it.
Neither am I. Is the Minister aware that experts have declared that you cannot get a radio-telephone of efficient intensity to cover the distances involved unless you have booster stations specially erected?
Mr. O'Malley
I am well aware there is acute public interest in this matter and I have set up an informal committee to review the training of ambulance crews and the equipping of ambulances with radio-telephones. The committee has had several meetings and will be putting forward recommendations to me within the next few weeks. That committee includes a neuro-surgeon, the medical director of the National Rehabilitation Centre, the acting RMS of St. Kevin's Hospital, an anaesthetist, someone from the Army Medical Corps and the Dublin Fire Brigade and officers of my Department. I sincerely trust we will come up with a satisfactory solution.
Would the Minister consider adding to that body a radio technician competent to give technical advice? Is the Minister aware that there is on the Hill of Allen a commercial booster station because radio-telephones supplied by this commercial firm have not got the distance——
Mr. O'Malley
I must confess my ignorance. I know there is a Bog of Allen but I did not know there was a Hill of Allen.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.