Government to decide on air ambulance service

THE GOVERNMENT is considering the introduction of a dedicated air ambulance service for emergency patients.

Minister for Health Dr James Reilly told the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children last week there were now three proposals about such a service on the table.

He told the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children that he hoped to have news about such a development shortly.

There have been increased calls for an air ambulance service following the closure of the emergency department at Roscommon hospital last summer and suggestions that other facilities could be downgraded in the future.

Dr Reilly said the reopening of the emergency department at Roscommon hospital “would be utterly impossible”, adding: “It would not make it safe. That is part of the problem.”

The Minister said the department had been considering proposals about the development of an air ambulance service since early last June.

“A proposal was put to us by a charitable group. Since then, another proposal has been made by a group from Roscommon, and we have also been working with another group. There are three proposals on the table, and I hope to have news about that shortly.

“It is in everybody’s interest that we have a rapid response for people who are critically ill, that we have an integrated system and that everything works together, so that we do not have ambulances turning up at the same time as the helicopter and the fire brigade.”

Roscommon TD Denis Naughten said the cost of a dedicated air ambulance would be approximately the same as having one additional ambulance, but that it would cover the west and the midlands region.

“The difficulty is that if there is a serious incident in Roscommon, the advance paramedic is taken out of the catchment for three and a half hours plus.

“The HSE is considering a plan to base an air ambulance service at coastal locations but, as the committee will be aware, that is where the accident and emergency departments are already located,” he said.

“Surely it would make more sense to base it in the midlands to service the areas where accident and emergency departments are closing?”