asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the increasing number of deaths and injuries on the roads and the increasing number of accidental deaths occurring at home, he will consider rationalising the present ambulance services; and if he will arrange that a hospital intern will travel with each ambulance on accident cases so that life-saving, anti-shock therapy may be commenced at the scene of an accident.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Deaths.
14.
I am not sure what the Deputy has in mind in referring to rationalising the ambulance services. If he has views about this I suggest that he would put them in writing and I will arrange to have them considered by the consultative council on the ambulance services who advise me in regard to these services. The advice I have is against the sending of a member of the hospital medical staff with the ambulance on accident calls but if the Deputy wishes to set out his views on this also I will have them considered by the council.
Is the Minister aware that during a recent debate on a Supplementary Estimate for Health, I outlined in detail what I had in mind? This is obviously being ignored. Is the Minister aware that when I spoke of rationalising the ambulance services, I was including local authority ambulances, private ambulances and local government ambulances?
The ambulance services are being reviewed constantly by the ambulance consultative council and they have done splendid work in putting forward proposals for the rationalisation of the services. All the advice that I have from all the experts is that in the event of an accident the first requirement is to get the patient to hospital as soon as possible.
Alive.
I intend arranging for some publicity on television at a later time this year which will explain to the public what their part should be in the event of an accident. The ambulance committee are doing exactly the work referred to by the Deputy.
May I ask the Minister——
The Deputy has already asked a supplementary. He may not monopolise Question Time. Question No. 15.
It is not my intention to monopolise Question Time.
Then would the Deputy resume his seat and allow questions to continue?
I would like to ask the Minister——
The Deputy may not ask any further supplementaries. The number he may ask is a matter for the Chair.
May I have your permission——
Not at the moment; there are too many questions to be asked yet.