Vol. 419 No. 1
117 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will accept a submission to his Department's ambulance review committee from Tipperary Urban District Council as a concerned statutory body regarding their request for the restoration of an ambulance service for the west Tipperary area, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
118 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health if the ambulance review committee of his Department received a submission from the South Eastern Health Board; whether this submission included the needs of Tipperary town and district which lost its ambulance station when St. Vincent's Hospital was closed in 1987, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
119 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health if he will give details per week of all ambulance calls from the west Tipperary area for each of the years between January 1987 and December 1991 which were received in the South Eastern Health Board giving a breakdown of, (a) the number of calls received and (b) the average length of time from call out to arrival at patient location; if any formal complaint has been made to the health board about delays or loss of life arising from any such delays; if he has satisfied himself with the ambulance service to this vast rural hinterland of Tipperary, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 to 119, inclusive, together.
I understand that the South Eastern Health Board has not formally made a submission to the ambulance review group.
Advertisements were recently placed in the national press by the review group inviting submissions from all interested parties. Submissions were to be returned by 30 April, 1992. However, due to the current postal difficulties, submissions will be accepted for a further limited period and if Tipperary Urban District Council wish to make a submission this should be done immediately.
I understand from the South Eastern Health Board that they have not received any complaints regarding the ambulance service currently being provided in the west Tipperary area.
Details regarding ambulance calls are a matter for the South Eastern Health Board in the first instance. I understand that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have requested the information from the South Eastern Health Board and I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as the information is provided by the board.
