asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the ambulance cover provided by the Southern Health Board; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that private ambulance services were used to answer 999 calls on 5 and 8 July 1989; and if he will provide adequate funds to the Southern Health Board to ensure that the ambulance services in Cork can cope with a major accident or emergency.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Cork Ambulance Services.
58.
The provision of ambulance services is a matter for each health board in the first instance. I am satisfied that the Southern Health Board provide adequate accident and emergency cover at all times.
The use of private ambulances by health boards is not altogether unusual. In general, such ambulances would be called upon only where, for unforeseen reasons, a health board might not be able to provide a vehicle immediately. With regard to the instances referred to by the Deputy, the Southern Health Board have confirmed that the private ambulance company was called upon to deal with two calls — on 5 and 8 July 1989 — as the board's own ambulances were committed to other calls at the time. The Cork City Fire Brigade ambulance, which the board normally call upon as back-up in these circumstances, was out of service and consequently the private service was used.
The board use private ambulances only infrequently and when they do so it has proved to be cost effective and, above all, safe.