Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2016
294. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the decisions he or the Health Service Executive have taken on foot of a meeting he held in 2015 in relation to improving the ambulance services in west Connemara, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8202/16]
View answerWhile no specific decisions have been made as a result of the meeting referred to by the Deputy, I have been assured, by the Director of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), that ambulance services in west Connemara are kept under review by the Chief Ambulance Officer for the western region.
Achieving response times in rural settings is difficult for any ambulance service and requires investment in additional resources and extensive community first responder schemes. In that context, new ambulance bases in Tuam, Mulranny and Loughglynn are improving regional coverage and deployment across Connemara and an active Community First Responder (CFR) scheme is supporting the ambulance service in the area. Additional funding provided in the National Service Plan 2016 includes funding to expand the CFR Scheme. The NAS will continue to work with CFR Ireland to develop CFR schemes, particularly in rural communities, to enhance the delivery of patient care.
The Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) Service continues to ensure that seriously ill or injured people, in more remote areas, have timely access to appropriate, high quality clinical care. The EAS is targeted mainly at western counties, where the road network may not allow for rapid transport to the nearest appropriate hospital.
The Deputy may also wish to note that three separate major reviews of pre-hospital emergency care have been initiated and a single cohesive action plan for ambulance services is currently being developed. This Plan will set out the actions necessary to implement the various recommendations and to address the range of other demands and challenges facing the ambulance service.
