Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. As I mentioned, the NAS will soon begin trialling the physician-advanced paramedic crewing model for HEMS. Plans are being finalised for physician deployments to commence next month. A great deal of work has been going on in the background concerning this issue for quite a while. It is very positive that the trial is going to commence. On completion of this trial, the HSE NAS will evaluate the information gathered from it to determine the clinical competencies to suit HEMS delivery in Ireland. I imagine that much work will be done in relation to the initial call and triaging exactly what response will be needed. This would be my experience of it.

The Senator asked if the doctors will be trained to operate with helicopters. I am sure they would have to be. I am only speaking off the cuff now, but I would assume that this would be the case. Statistics are important, so this pilot will determine the statistics.

To address the Senator's other point, we fully buy into North-South co-operation. I continually engage with my counterparts in mental health in Northern Ireland. This is crucially important. The fact that the North-South Ministerial Council is back up and running is also extremely important.