Ms Laoise Murphy:

ACT now stands at the forefront of innovation in emergency response. It has emerged as a highly sought-after solution, as evidenced by numerous expressions of interest for collaboration and its incorporation into prominent initiatives, most notably its integration with the HSE Health App. ACT provides immediate, precise and accurate directions to the emergency services, which is crucial for a quick response in an emergency. ACT will reduce the number of emergency service vehicles dispatched to incorrect locations, which has proven to be a prevalent and critical issue from our research. It will enhance patient survival rates by ensuring timely access to treatment within critical, time-sensitive windows. It will ensure early intervention, which will result in the patient getting to the hospital more quickly and help prevent miscommunication regarding locations caused by panic, language barriers and other issues.

The increasing number of patients dying in Ireland before the arrival of an ambulance at the scene of a medical emergency underscores a critical challenge in EMS response. Recent data reveals a 70% rise in such cases over the past eight years, reflecting a growing pressure on emergency services to meet the demand of timely intervention. These figures highlight the urgent need for strategies to reduce response times and optimise pre-hospital care. This alarming trend not only emphasises gaps in service delivery but also underscores the critical role of digital innovations in improving outcomes for time-sensitive emergencies. By examining these issues, our project explores how targeted interventions can mitigate delays and enhance the effectiveness of emergency systems.