Vol. 560 No. 3
304 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the continuing loss of life due to the lack of a helicopter emergency medical service, HEMS, here; if he will act urgently on the results of the feasibility study when it becomes available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2309/03]
Air ambulance services for emergency cases which cannot be safely conveyed by road ambul ance are provided at present by the Air Corps and the marine search and rescue helicopter services of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
Government policy on the development of emergency medical services in Ireland is set out in a number of key documents including: the report of the review group on the ambulance service – 1993; the cardiovascular health strategy, Building Healthier Hearts – 1999; and Strategic Review of the Ambulance Service, 2001, which was undertaken by the chief executive officers of the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority – ERHA.
The feasibility study on the costs and benefits associated with the introduction of a dedicated HEMS, which was commissioned by one of the groups established under the Good Friday Agreement to examine areas of planning for major emergencies, is expected to be concluded shortly. The findings of this study will be considered by my Department, and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety – DHSSPS – in Belfast, in the context of developments in the emergency medical services generally.
Any resulting initiatives in relation to the development of a HEMS will need to complement other pre-hospital services such as the ground ambulance service, first responder schemes and other emergency schemes.
Finally, I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to the further development of emergency medical services in the context of the recommendations of the 2001 strategic review, the 1993 report of the review group along with the continuation of the implementation of the cardiovascular health strategy.
