Ciarán Cuffe
Question:244 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to introduce a helicopter emergency medical service. [13231/04]
View answerTuesday, 11 May 2004
Questions (213, 214)
Brendan Smith
Question:271 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the proposal to provide an air ambulance service throughout Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13357/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 271 together.
My Department and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Belfast, DHSSPS, commissioned a feasibility study and report on the costs and benefits associated with the introduction of a dedicated helicopter emergency medical service, HEMS, for the island of Ireland.
The report of the consultants appointed to undertake the study was published on 30 April 2004 and is available on my Department's website. The study identifies possible roles for a helicopter emergency medical service, HEMS. These include a primary response; travelling directly to the scene of an incident to take the patient to hospital, and an inter-hospital response; the planned rapid transfer between hospital of patients requiring specialist care, escorted by skilled professionals.
The study concludes that an inter-hospital transfer service would be the most appropriate in an all-island context. The study indicates that this would involve significant capital investment and annual operating costs. The estimated cost is €12 million capital and €4 million annual operating costs for a single helicopter. Additional helicopters could be added with an additional annual cost for each aircraft of over €3 million.
A three year programme of work would be needed to establish HEMS including procurement of aircraft, identifying and constructing landing sites, developing cross-Border communications and control systems, producing service protocols and cross-Border management agreements, including funding and payment, staff recruitment and training and arrangements for integration with existing hospital and ambulance services.
My Department is exploring options in relation to HEMS development in the light of the study. As part of this exercise, it has initiated discussions with the Department of Defence and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, which manages the Irish Coast Guard.