Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 June 2015
170. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the emergency aeromedical service air ambulance has now been in operation for three years on a pilot basis, and in view of the fact that it has been a phenomenal success, if he will put the Air Corps operation of the service on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22851/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EAS, initially established as a 12 month pilot, has been extremely successful. For very seriously ill patients, in locations where the driving time to the most appropriate hospital may be challenging, the National Ambulance Service can bring advanced life support to the patient, and then bring the patient to the right hospital, within a clinically acceptable time.
The EAS has now completed over 1000 missions. This is a fantastic achievement. One third of these missions have involved very serious and time-critical STEMI heart attacks. These patients need to be brought to a specialist cardiac catheter unit within 90 minutes of diagnosis by an ambulance crew. In particular, the EAS allows this to be done for patients in remoter parts of the west.
The EAS pilot established a clear need for an aeromedical emergency service targeted at the most seriously ill patients who are at a distance from major acute hospitals. The EAS Establishment Group examined a number of options for putting the EAS on a permanent and sustainable footing. I am, along with my colleague the Minister for Defence, considering the Group's recommendations for sustainable support to the service. I am hoping to complete this process shortly, and to make recommendations to Government on how best to proceed.
