Jimmy Harte (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. Last week in Letterkenny, an injured jogger had to wait 48 minutes for an ambulance to come from the hospital, which is about 1.5 km from where his injury occurred. It turned out that the ambulance came from Carndonagh, 35 miles away. Luckily, the jogger was not seriously injured but he could have been. He had to lie on the road with passers-by comforting him.

Six months ago, I had reason to get an ambulance. It arrived within five minutes and I was in hospital approximately ten minutes after the incident occurred. I am aware, therefore, of the comfort associated with having an ambulance arrive quickly and the professionalism of the ambulance and hospital staff. I would not like to believe I would have had to wait 48 minutes for an ambulance. I wonder whether I would have coped as easily as the jogger. Perhaps other people could have.

It is scary that in a town the size of Letterkenny, which is well serviced with a general hospital, primary care centre and general practitioners, an ambulance could take 48 minutes to arrive. It is not acceptable. I am not criticising the ambulance drivers or staff but pointing to a breakdown somewhere. This matter was aired extensively on local radio, thus giving a negative impression of the health service. If the incident was isolated, we could live with it. However, we are very concerned that if such an incident happens again, the injured party may not receive proper attention on time. If it had been a cardiac incident, 48 minutes would have been too long to wait. I still have not discovered why there was a delay. Perhaps the Minister of State will outline the circumstances and give comfort, if not a guarantee, to the people such that there will be no recurrence. Such an incident should not occur in this day and age, particularly when there is a hospital but a ten-minute walk away.

Luckily, passers-by assisted the jogger in question. In Letterkenny town, many people walk and jog in the evenings. The incident was an unfortunate one in which two cars collided and ended up on the footpath, injuring the unfortunate jogger. Perhaps the Minister of State will offer some comfort to those concerned about ambulance delays.