Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the case of Lorraine, a 55-year-old Cashel woman who requires a patient transfer service by ambulance from her home in Cashel to UHL tomorrow at 11 a.m. for an infusion to prevent a further relapse in her multiple sclerosis. Her mother Kathleen is 82 years of age. This is a very sad situation. The trip did not happen last week because the voluntary ambulance service driver became ill and was unable to bring her. The ambulance service is unable to bring her tomorrow and as of now, there is nobody to bring this lady to the hospital. She is a young lady who was a nurse. She is paralysed from her neck down and is almost completely blind because of a relapse. She now requires full-time care. Without the necessary infusion on Wednesday, which is already a week late, her condition will further deteriorate. This is a sad situation. The ambulance service in County Tipperary is stretched. The staff are doing a great job in south Tipperary and Clonmel but they need a new ambulance base urgently and they need support. This is a very sad situation.

See this speech in context