Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

The emergency ambulance service in the greater Dublin area is provided by Dublin City Council in the first instance. When operational circumstances so require, the HSE national ambulance service provides supplementary capacity to ensure that the necessary cover is maintained. Where necessary, this involves the use of available ambulance resources from other counties in the region. Staff and management take specific measures to ensure ambulance cover is maintained, with patient safety the utmost priority. This is what happened on 25 May last.

On that day delays at the Mater Hospital occurred at 4.30 p.m. After contact from the HSE liaison officer, all vehicles, but one, were released rapidly. At 8.30 p.m., there were eight ambulances held. The eight ambulances comprised six of the Dublin fire brigade's and two HSE vehicles. The national ambulance service liaison immediately addressed the situation, including consultation with the emergency department staff, the CEO on call and the nursing administration. By 9.30 p.m., four ambulances were released. By 10.30 p.m., all ambulances were available. One ambulance was at the hospital in excess of six hours, owing to the clinical circumstances of the particular patient concerned.

I am advised that the option of storing additional trolleys at hospitals has been considered in the past but not adopted because of significant patient safety, insurance and health and safety concerns. The HSE is, however, in discussion with the major Dublin hospitals with a view to identifying safe and effective measures which will help to minimise the period for which emergency ambulances are held at hospitals after arriving with patients.

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