Vol. 481 No. 3
89 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make the necessary finance available to the Southern Health Board in order that a full-time emergency ambulance service will be available day and night for the North Lee area. [15322/97]
The provision of ambulance services in the North Lee area of Cork city is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance. However, the board has advised me that there is already an ambulance based on the north side of the city at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital until the early evening while a night time service is provided from the base at Cork University Hospital.
I have been further advised by the board that it is currently reviewing its strategic plan for the development of the ambulance service in its area. The plan will be discussed by the Southern Health Board's general hospitals committee shortly and will prioritise the provision of additional ambulances in key areas throughout Cork city and county on the basis of the network to be serviced.
I might add that since the report of the Review Group on the Ambulance Service was published in November 1993, the Southern Health Board has to date received an additional £1.3 million for the ongoing improvement of the ambulance service.
