Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 5

Written Answers. - Ambulance Service.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

66 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the transport facilities, if any, available for patients and doctors; the consideration, if any, he has given to the use of an air ambulance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11742/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): Under the 1970 Health Act, provision is made for health boards to make arrangements for providing ambulances or other means of transport for the conveyance of patients. On foot of this provision health boards operate ambulance services which provide both scheduled transport for non-ambulant patients and emergency pre-hospital care services. In addition, a new mobile intensive care ambulance service to provide an enhanced level of care to critically ill patients being transferred from intensive care units in local hospitals to referral hospitals in Dublin, will shortly commence operation on a pilot basis.

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 patients 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.

As recommended in the report of the Review Group on the Ambulance Service, a standing committee on air ambulance services has been established and is currently engaged in an examination of all the options regarding the most appropriate arrangements for the provision of air ambulance services.