Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I ask the Minister to address my questions regarding children and minor injuries which can be treated in Roscommon.

I bring the case of Mary to the attention of the Minister. Three weeks ago she had a mini-stroke at 10 p.m. The ambulance arrived within 15 minutes to bring her to the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar. When the ambulance was outside Edgeworthstown, the crew received a call to say that Mullingar was no longer accepting patients. The ambulance was turned around and the woman had to be transferred to Sligo General Hospital. She spent two hours in the ambulance and reached hospital three hours after the time of the stroke. This is contrary to all the publicity we see regarding fast action in relation to strokes. That ambulance was tied up for three hours and taken out of the area for which it should have been providing cover.

Before July, approximately 280 patients per week attended the accident and emergency department in Roscommon County Hospital. Currently, between 40 and 60 patients per week attend the department. Where are the other patients? I believe they are afraid to go to their GPs for fear they will be referred to other hospitals. Many of these people are elderly and vulnerable.

The Minister gave a commitment to the Joint Committee on Health and Children that he would have an independent evaluation of the medical evidence regarding the effect on a critically ill patient of an ambulance transfer in excess of two hours. Has that evaluation been completed and when will it be published?

See this speech in context