Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Will the Leader organise a debate on our ambulance service? There are different issues regarding the ambulance service across the country. I was recently contacted regarding a bedbound 87-year old lady who is being cared for at home by her daughter. However, her daughter is due to go into hospital for surgery. She looked for an ambulance to bring her mother to the community hospital for a week’s respite care but none was available.

We listen every day here to Opposition Members and the public about this, that and the other. How we treat our people is how we judge our society. If we cannot provide an ambulance for an 87-year old lady in such a case, then it is not a good reflection of our society.

I would like a full frank and open debate on the ambulance service. Some of the information that came from the ambulance services in Cork and Dublin stated that the intermediate care service ambulance is not guaranteed for such patients in the community and is the responsibility of local services. Local services might be different in Dublin. In Kerry, however, they are not there. The ambulance service stated this was new policy. I would like to know what this policy involves. Will the Leader organise a debate on our national ambulance services?