Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 5

Written Answers. - Ambulance Service.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

107 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make available the study carried out in 1997 by University College Dublin into ambulance response times; and if he has satisfied himself that all health boards are complying with the standards as set out in the study. [8443/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

A study into ambulance response times was commissioned by my Department in 1997 to provide a baseline response times profile for each ambulance service and to establish the feasibility of response times monitoring in an Irish context. The study was carried out by University College Dublin during 1997 and a detailed analysis of the findings of the report has been provided to each health board. A summary of the findings has been submitted to my Department. Proposals for the publication of the findings of the study are currently under discussion between my Department and the UCD research team.

While the study was intended to provide baseline response times information, it did not set out to establish target response times for ambulance services. Response times are only one of a number of factors which need to be taken into account in assessing ambulance service performance and measures for monitoring and assessment of ambulance response times and quality of care are being introduced this year. This will accelerate the development and introduction of performance measurement in the ambulance service, including the development of response time standards.