Michael Ring
Question:529 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if priority for funding for the ambulance service in north Mayo can be given to have an ambulance available for an emergency within 30 minutes at all times. [13258/02]
Written Answers. - Ambulance Service.
Michael Ring
Question:530 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the time frame for the implementation of a 30 minute ambulance response time in north Mayo; the ambulance response time achieved in urban and rural areas by each health board and regional authority; and if there is a national or regional ambulance recommended response time. [13259/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 530 together.
Responsibility for the provision of ambulance services in north Mayo rests with the Western Health Board. Therefore, my Department has asked the chief executive officer to investigate the issues raised by the Deputy regarding the ambulance service in north Mayo and to reply to him directly.
Response times are an important measure of the operational efficiency of the ambulance service and are monitored on an ongoing basis by the individual health boards. Response times vary in each health board area, depending on the geographical location of the ambulance centre in relation to the call out location. I have asked the recently established Health Board Executive, HeBE, to furnish the Deputy directly with the information which he requested in relation to response times achieved in urban and rural areas in the ERHA area and each health board area.