Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
40 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the fact that the Air Corps air ambulance is not a dedicated service, and that the equipment it carries reflects its multi-purpose role, if he has satisfied himself with allowing this service to continue, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13475/04]
View answerAmong the roles assigned to the Air Corps under the White Paper on Defence is the provision of air ambulance services. The Air Corps provides a limited air ambulance service subject to the nature of the mission, available aircraft and other operational commitments. To this end, the Air Corps deploys an Allouette helicopter for daylight missions and, subject to availability, a Dauphin helicopter for night-time operations and also for some neo-natal transfers. In certain circumstances, both the Beechcraft and the CASA Maritime patrol aircraft have been used in the air ambulance role. In addition, the new Lear Jet can be configured for air ambulance and patient transfer.
Each aircraft deployed carries a selection of mission specific medical equipment, the scale of which meets the requirements of each transfer. In this regard, the Air Corps has worked closely with hospital specialists to procure specific equipment and fittings for both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
Air Corps helicopters operate from both airports and, where available and deemed safe, hospital helipads. Most transfers are airport to airport with onward transfer by land ambulance. All air ambulance taskings are passed to the Air Corps by a regional ambulance controller.
The provision of this service is on an "as is" basis. The level of service offered reflects the multi-purpose role of the Air Corps. The Air Corps has clearly stated the available capability to hospitals and health boards. The question of whether to use the service is a clinical decision to be made by relevant medical staff on a case by case basis having regard to the nature of the available service and the best interests of their patients. In this regard, my Department has recently entered into discussions with the Department of Health and Children to formalise the current service arrangements under a service level agreement. The service provided, limited as it is, is well regarded by those who use it and who understand the nature of the service. For so long as that remains the case, I will continue to offer the service.
I am grateful for the Minister's reply. I too sympathise with the family of the young pilot who died so tragically.
It is not my intention to bash the Air Corps, but the facts speak for themselves. The Beaumont study of 2000 shows the Air Corps service to be a farce. People who are desperately ill awaiting transfer for urgent treatment must wait an average of 12.25 hours for an Air Corps helicopter to arrive. However, the Air Corps has other jobs to do. It spends more time carrying Government Ministers than it spends doing mercy missions, and it is based in Dublin and therefore unavailable. That means that the 400 to 600 potential missions that should be done are not done. A total of 200 missions was carried out in 1997, decreasing to 86 missions in 2001 and people die as a result.
Would the Minister not agree that the answer is in the recently published study into the all-Ireland helicopter emergency medical service feasibility study, which is two years overdue, which states very clearly that this inter hospital service would work at a cost of €12 million plus €4 million annual running costs? That would include the cost of the helipad at Beaumont Hospital which is urgently needed. It would help our hardworking ambulance men to transfer people, say babies with meningococcal meningitis, and save their lives. What good is it to a baby fighting for its life to have to wait for this very essential service? Does the Minister not agree that the service is more needed than the six new Air Corps helicopters the Minister spoke about five months ago and in respect of which tenders have been issued?
Plans have been made to mind President Bush, but it is more important to mind our people. Charity begins at home. Why will the Minister not sanction the helicopter emergency medical service, which needs just one helicopter? The report speaks of consultation between the Department of Defence and the Department of Health and Children. Does the Minister not agree that it is imperative that the helicopter emergency medical service is established, especially in light of the findings of the Hanly report? The Garda has a dedicated helicopter because it feels that such a service is needed when crime takes place. What about people? Is the Government's priority military operations, President Bush, crime or the ill people of Ireland?
It is quite unfair of Deputy Cowley to suggest that there have been deficiencies in the Air Corps's attempts to provide a helicopter medical service.
The service is not dedicated.
It is equally unfair to suggest that a higher priority is given to the transport of Ministers or others than to urgent missions to transfer patients to hospital. There were 96 missions in 2003, involving the Dauphin, Alouette, Casa, Beech, Cessna and S61 aircraft. The missions took a total of 240 hours. I pay tribute to the Air Corps, which has a wide variety of roles and provides services such as search and rescue, ambulance and ministerial transport. The Air Corps responds to its various tasks as quickly as possible.
The Deputy referred to an announcement that was made about helicopters. Following the announcement, I established a civil military procurement group to decide on the type of aircraft that would be most suitable. The needs of the health service were to be considered in that context as one of the roles of the Air Corps. Unfortunately, developments in the search and rescue service in the west meant that the matter had to be reconsidered. I hope in the next week to advertise in the journal for tenders for six new helicopters.
I do not disagree with the Minister's contention that the Air Corps does a good job. It is not the fault of the Air Corps that it does not provide the dedicated service for which there is such a great need. Will the Minister make the case for the need to replace the Air Corps service with a dedicated service? A man is now paralysed for life and is in a wheelchair because the Air Corps was not available to bring him where he needed to go. He paid a high price.
Will the Minister not consider the establishment of a dedicated helicopter emergency medical service? A report that has been overdue for two years states that we should put in place such a service. The Minister arranged the commissioning of the report North and South. Will the Minister not take all of us, including the Air Corps, out of our misery by deciding to proceed with a dedicated helicopter emergency medical service?
I have indicated that the dedicated service issue is the subject of discussions between my Department and the Minister for Health and Children. I ask Members to bear in mind that the primary responsibility for providing such a service does not rest with the Minister for Defence. I am anxious to ensure that we will do as much as possible to provide enhanced health services using the facilities of the Air Corps and the acquisitions we made.
I thank the Minister.
