Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

There is a shared concern to ensure patients in Navan, Meath and the north east, or any part of the country, can access the services they need. As mentioned earlier, there is currently an ambulance bypass protocol in place for Our Lady's Hospital Navan for paediatric, obstetric, major trauma, heart attack and stroke care patients. These patients bypass the emergency department at Our Lady's Hospital and are brought to the closest appropriate hospital for their needs. This ambulance bypass protocol is being enhanced to include patients who are critically or seriously ill or likely to deteriorate. This will ensure the cohort of patients who require appropriate treatment urgently will be brought to the closest appropriate hospital for their needs as quickly as possible. Ambulances will continue to bring patients outside of the critically and seriously unwell categories to the emergency department at our Lady's Hospital Navan. This enhanced ambulance bypass protocol is important to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place and at the right time. I was not aware, and I am not sure the Minister is, of the letter the Senator is referring to but I will certainly bring it to his attention.