Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 3

Written Answers. - Air Ambulance Services.

Dermot Ahern

Ceist:

137 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Health if he will make a patrol helicopter available for the road and rail transport system within a 50 miles radius of Dublin in order that lives may be saved and injuries prevented in view of the fact that a rescue helicopter may save lives at sea on the east coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6543/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): A standing committee on air ambulance services under the aegis of the Departments of Defence and Health was set up in mid-1995 on foot of the recommendations of the report of the Review Group on the Ambulance Service. The standing committee's terms of reference are:— (a) to regularly review the operation of air ambulance services; (b) to ensure appropriate medical input and advice; (c) to specify Protocols in order to obtain maximum cost benefits and ensure the appropriate use of aircraft, and (d) to consider the adequacy of resources for air ambulance missions and jointly put forward any proposals for the improvement of the air ambulance service.

The report of the review group also recommended that the question of having dedicated and purpose-equipped air ambulance aircraft should be considered within the context of the Standing Committee.

The committee is currently engaged in an examination of all the options regarding the most appropriate arrangements for the provision of air ambulance services, having regard to the recommendations of the ambulance review group, with the aim of ensuring that all available resources are utilised in the most cost effective manner possible.

The present position is that the Air Corps provides air ambulance transport to health boards for emergency cases and this arrangement has been in place since 1965. This service is generally provided in emergencies requiring the removal of badly injured or very ill persons over long distances, particularly where they cannot be safely conveyed by road ambulance. It is also provided for the removal from islands of persons requiring urgent hospital attention when weather conditions are such as to make boat transport impossible or hazardous to the patient. In addition since August 1991, the marine search and rescue helicopter service of the Department of the Marine is also available for air ambulance transport in cases of emergency. This service has been used at times by health boards.

I believe that it is necessary to put detailed arrangements in place to ensure that an integrated service operates between the air ambulance, ground based ambulance services and hospital based accident and emergency services. All of these matters fall to be considered by the standing committee and I am of the view that any development in this area should await the recommendations of the standing committee on air ambulance services.