Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2010
188 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 125 of 18 May 2010, if she will confirm that the Health Service Executive holds copies of, or has confirmed the existence of Garda vetting forms for all ambulance personnel that are, at the direction of the HSE, involved in the transport and treatment of public and private patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21798/10]
View answer189 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that all of the seven private ambulance companies that are carrying out services for the Health Service Executive have been inspected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21800/10]
View answer191 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to tier the ambulance sector in order to provide a more efficient and effective service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21803/10]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 188, 189 and 191 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive it is not possible for the Executive to supply the information requested. If the matters raised remain of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise them with the HSE again in due course.
190 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive has target response times for all public, private and voluntary ambulance services; if they are monitored and recorded and available for public inspection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21802/10]
View answerThe HSE target ambulance response times from the National Service Plan for 2010 are outlined in the table below. I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action it is not possible for the Executive to supply current performance data for the ambulance services. However if this matter remains of continuing concern to you, I would invite you to raise it with the HSE again in due course. HIQA in conjunction with the HSE and PHECC is at present working to develop additional time-based performance standards and indicators in relation to pre-hospital emergency response. The HSE has no role in setting performance targets for private or voluntary ambulance services.
|
Response Times |
Reported |
Expected Activity/Target 2009 |
Projected Outturn 2009 |
Expected Activity/Target 2010 |
|
Total number of Ambulance Transfers |
||||
|
Emergency |
Monthly |
225,000 |
205,367 |
205,000 |
|
Urgent |
Monthly |
68,000 |
61,567 |
62,000 |
|
Non-urgent |
Monthly |
202,000 |
251,371 |
188,000 |
|
Community |
Monthly |
— |
343,763 |
280,000 |
|
Responded to within pre-determined time bands |
||||
|
< 8 minutes |
Monthly |
32% |
30% |
32% |
|
< 14 minutes |
Monthly |
63% |
60% |
63% |
|
< 19 minutes |
Monthly |
79% |
73% |
79% |
|
< 26 minutes |
Monthly |
86% |
84% |
86% |
192 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if ambulances are to be included in regulation of hospitals by the Health and Information Quality Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21804/10]
View answerMy Department is currently working on the preparation of legislation for the licensing of health care providers, based on standards to be set by the Health Information and Quality Authority. The licensing of ambulance services will be considered in this context.
