Eoin Ryan
Ceist:102 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Health his functions in relation to the provision of emergency services in the event of a major chemical accident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13359/96]
Written Answers. - Emergency Services.
Eoin Ryan
Ceist:103 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Health the medical emergency plans, if any, in Dublin in the event of a major chemical emergency; the last occasion on which a review took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13360/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.
The interdepartmental committee's framework plan for all major emergencies was approved by Government in 1984. In August 1993 the interdepartmental committee on peacetime emergency planning initiated a review of the guidelines and advice on emergency planning contained in the framework document. The committee issued new recommendations in September 1994 with a view to improving co-ordination between the main emergency services both at the planning stage and during the course of an emergency.
All eight health boards have a comprehensive emergency plan prepared in line with the 1984 framework document. The health boards regularly run test exercises to check on the effectiveness of their plans, and boards continually update their plans in the light of relevant experiences at home and abroad and with additions to or deletions from the lists of contact agencies, personnel, etc. These plans are generic in character and are therefore capable of being applied to all types of emergencies including a major chemical accident. Health boards participate in initiatives to improve co-ordination of emergency planning efforts at regional level.
In relation to the Dublin area, the agencies concerned have a working group on major emergency plans engaged in an examination of the plans for the Dublin area and the appropriate co-ordinated response from each agency.
The poisons information centre in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, operates a 24 hour telephone service, particularly for medical personnel, to provide information on the diagnosis and treatment of poisoning from all causes. The centre has computer links to the UK databases and also subscribes to US databases.
Within the health service there is now a well developed understanding and recognition by health agencies of their role and functions in major emergencies and the responsibilities which they carry regarding such occurrences.
Eoin Ryan
Ceist:104 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a media report in The Examiner on 17 June 1996 regarding the inadequacy on emergency services at Cork University Hospital to deal with a major chemical accident; the plans, if any, he has to improve facilities in this respect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13361/96]
Limerick East): In May 1995, the Southern Health Board established a committee to review the organisation and delivery of accident and emergency services in Cork. The group completed its report in March 1996 and discussions are currently taking place within the board to address the issues identified in this report. I expect to receive a copy of the report in the near future.
At present, in the event of a chemical accident, there is a major emergency plan put into operation which involves all emergency services, i.e. the Garda, fire services, ambulance service and the accident and emergency department.
It is the major emergency policy worldwide that decontamination takes place at the scene of the accident. In this regard each chemical company has its own decontamination procedures in place. The fire service also has specific decontamination facilities available. Once the hospitals have been notified of the accident, the hospital emergency plan is put into operation, which includes notification of all emergency staff. The victims are then transported by ambulance to any one of three accident and emergency departments in Cork where emergency beds are made available to cope with the situation.
Facilities and equipment for accident and emergency services are constantly being reviewed by my Department. However, on receipt of the report of the Southern Health Board Accident and Emergency Review Group, the question of additional resources will be considered in the context of competing demands and priorities for acute hospital services.