Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will rely on the facts relating to a case to demonstrate the problem. A constituent has outlined his experience having become ill at home with severe chest pains during Christmas week. Having suffering a previous attack, he called the ambulance service at approximately 8.45 p.m. and was answered promptly by a call attender. The call attender took details and advised that an ambulance was en routefrom the Castleblayney area. However, the ambulance was subsequently diverted to another urgent call in the Castleblayney area. The call attender attempted to contact doctor-on-call but to no avail and there was no ambulance available in the Monaghan town, Cavan Louth or Meath areas. Despite the call attender's best efforts, including requesting an ambulance from Northern Ireland, his efforts had no success. He continued to stay on the phone for almost two hours with the gentleman who had had the cardiac experience giving advice, keeping him calm and providing updates on ambulance availability.

Eventually, an ambulance arrived from Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, at 11.15 p.m. and brought the patient to Cavan for treatment.

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