Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and for the opportunity to provide reassurance that the national ambulance service has no plans to install a permanent helipad at Beaumont Woods. Aeromedical assistance is provided to the HSE by both the Irish Air Corps and the Coast Guard who aim to ensure the highest level of safety in all aeromedical missions. Both the Air Corps and the Irish Coast Guard require predetermined landing zones. These are suitable landing areas that have been surveyed, and are deemed suitable for safe aeromedical operations.

The predetermined landing zone in Beaumont Hospital is inoperable due to ongoing construction works. In the time available, it was not been possible to identify other suitable landing sites within the hospital complex and, therefore, an alternative site outside, but close to the hospital was required. The national ambulance service aeromedical liaison officer scoped the area and identified the football pitch of Our Lady of Mercy school as a suitable temporary landing site. The board of management of the school granted permission for the use of the site and protocols were agreed and put in place to ensure the safe operation of the landing zone. I am informed that the site is used only in daylight hours and has been surveyed by both the Air Corps and the Coast Guard and found to be safe and appropriate. A secure and locked area is provided, which ensures no unauthorised entry can be gained during an aeromedical mission. The protocol also requires that Santry Garda station be informed of an aircraft arrival.

I have no doubt the House will accept it is vitally important, as the Deputy has acknowledged, that acutely ill patients receive all necessary medical care and are transferred as rapidly as possible to an appropriate facility. The availability of emergency helicopter transfers has been a major step forward for patients. However, I stress that the use of helicopters is not routine. Helicopter transfers are deployed only in exceptional circumstances. I am informed that the Beaumont Woods site has been utilised on 17 occasions in the past year.

While there may be local concern regarding the use of the site in Beaumont Woods, the provision of this particular predetermined landing zone has significantly decreased journey time of seriously ill or injured patients to appropriate care. The current alternative site is Dublin Airport, but that would add 30 minutes to the patient's onwards journey to hospital and, in time-critical patients, this additional time might be crucial to their prognosis.

As I have indicated, this is a temporary arrangement which seeks to ensure the fastest access to treatment for acutely ill patients. Ideally, the helicopter ambulance should land on the hospital complex but, unfortunately, this is not feasible during current construction works.

I acknowledge the Deputy's comments. I was not aware of the history of his inquiries. I agree with him that it is appropriate that he or any Deputy should have an answer given to him or her expeditiously and clearly. I cannot account for conflicts in the different answers given to the Deputy but if he requires further information on foot of the reply I have given, I will ensure that is established for him expeditiously.

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