asked the Minister for Health the action he proposes to take regarding the inadequate ambulance and medical services in Athlone Hospital, County Westmeath, which led to tragic consequences recently.
Written Answers. - Athlone (Westmeath) Hospital.
260.
The provision of ambulance and medical services at Athlone District Hospital is primarily a matter for the Midland Health Board. The board is satisfied that the hospital has sufficient medical cover to provide a district hospital service for the area. Consultant-staffed hospital services for the area are provided in Mullingar General Hospital.
There is an ambulance station located at Athlone District Hospital and this is staffed by two permanent ambulance drivers, with a relief driver available. There is an accident and emergency ambulance, an estate car ambulance and a minibus based there. A nurse is provided from the district hospital to accompany all ambulance calls. The board has an arrangement with the local army barracks to provide an emergency ambulance service if the ambulance driver on duty is engaged away from Athlone when an emergency call is received. The ambulance responding from Athlone takes emergency cases to the acute general hospital nearest the scene of the accident, either Portiuncula which is 16 miles from Athlone or Mullingar which is 28 miles from Athlone.
The board does not accept that the tragic outcomes of recent events in the area were due in any way to the level of ambulance and medical services provided in Athlone District Hospital.