Written answers

Wednesday, 31 January 2007

Department of Health and Children

Ambulance Service

8:00 am

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 659: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress she has made in the establishment of an all-Ireland helicopter emergency medical service as recommended by the feasibility study consultants' report published on 30 April 2004; if there has been recent meetings held in relation to establishing this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1171/07]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 763: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service will be rolled out here; her views on whether this is an essential service and is necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1738/07]

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 816: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to provide a comprehensive air ambulance service for County Clare that would cover areas more than one hour's driving time from the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, such as west Clare, north Clare and parts of east Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2106/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 659, 763 and 816 together.

A consultancy study jointly commissioned by my Department and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Belfast (DHSSPS) on the costs and benefits associated with the introduction of a dedicated Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for the island of Ireland was published in 2004 and is available on my Department's website. The study concluded that the introduction of a dedicated inter-hospital air ambulance service would be appropriate in an all-island context.

In considering the report, the DHSSPS advised that its priority at present is the need for further investment to improve the ground ambulance service. On foot of the report my Department had detailed discussions with the Department of Defence regarding the future provision of air ambulance services by the Air Corps. Arising from these discussions, a detailed Service Level Agreement has been prepared and signed. The signatories to the agreement are the Department of Defence, the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive, the Defence Forces and the Air Corps.

The agreement sets out the range services to be provided by the Air Corps, specifically:

Inter-hospital Transfer for spinal and serious injury and illness

Air Transport of Neonates requiring immediate medical intervention in Ireland

Air Transport of patients requiring emergency organ transplant in the UK

Air Transport of Organ Harvest Teams within Ireland

Air Transport of patients from offshore islands to mainland hospitals where the Coast Guard service is not available.

A Steering Group comprising representation from each of the signatories to the Service Level Agreement has been established. The Group is monitoring the operation of the agreement and will amend, if necessary, the provisions of the agreement to take account of service developments, including the new fleet replacement programme currently being put in place by the Air Corps. The Air Corps introduced two new EC 135 helicopters into service in 2006 and intends to introduce four AB 139 helicopters into service in 2007. Each of the new helicopters has a specific air ambulance capability. The new fleet will also have a far greater flying capacity than was previously available.

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