Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for accepting this issue which is of grave importance to the people of Carlow, especially since an issue arose in the recent past which has created much media attention, both nationally and locally. The issue concerns a lack of common sense in the management of the ambulance service in the area. I point out that there is no issue with the level of care and attention the particular individual in question received in the past week.

The incident arose during a Leinster minor football championship match in Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow on Wednesday of last night week when, unfortunately, a 17 year old player broke his leg just before half-time. I bring to the attention of the House the farcical comedy of errors that arose as a result. The player in question broke his leg and a call was placed to the ambulance service at 8.05 p.m. Because there are only two ambulances available in Carlow, both of which were out on duty at the time, an ambulance had to be dispatched from Portlaoise. It arrived in Carlow at 8.47 p.m. The player was attended to in Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow by the doctor on duty and it was obvious his leg was broken badly. He was cared for by the doctor while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

The player arrived in St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny at approximately 9.55 p.m. He was assessed and an ambulance was requested to bring him to Waterford, which is the main centre of excellence in the particular area. An ambulance had to be dispatched from Dublin to bring him to Waterford. On its way from Dublin, an emergency arose in Naas and the ambulance was diverted to Naas. As I pointed out, there is no issue with the care and attention the player was getting.

Another ambulance was requested from Carlow, which was the original place of the incident. The ambulance arrived from Carlow to Kilkenny at 1.43 a.m. to bring the player to Waterford Regional Hospital. The player arrived in Waterford Regional Hospital at 3.20 a.m. and was looked after, and was got to bed at 4 a.m., which was eight hours after the original incident took place. It was a comedy of errors.

It was obvious that the player's leg was badly broken. I accept there was no threat to his life. However, when the doctor on duty diagnosed the break, the player should have been transferred directly to Waterford Regional Hospital rather than to St. Luke's in Kilkenny. It did not seem to make sense to oblige him to wait in St. Luke's for six hours before transporting him to Waterford.

We are seeking a common-sense approach to this matter, which has given rise to concern both locally and nationally. I am interested in ensuring there will be no recurrence of these events. I accept that if there had been a life-threatening condition involved and if there had been a wait of six hours, then matters would be much more serious. Fortunately, in this instance the player had broken his leg but it was not a life-threatening injury. Common sense must prevail in respect of the management of the ambulance service in the area. If a doctor is on duty and if he or she diagnoses the extent and nature of an injury, then he or she should be in a position to decide the hospital to which the patient should be brought. In this instance, Waterford Regional Hospital, the main centre of excellence for orthopaedics in the area, should have been the destination to which the patient was transported. I ask that the position in this regard be reassessed in order that common sense will prevail in future.

See this speech in context