Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 346: To ask the Minister for Defence if his Department or the Defence Forces assist with air ambulance transportation from the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43912/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A Service Level Agreement between my Department and the Department of Health and Children for the provision of an Air Ambulance Service by the Air Corps was signed in September 2005 to formalise the arrangements for the existing service in relation to the provision of an air ambulance service. The signatories to the agreement are the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Defence, the Health Service Executive, the Defence Forces and the Air Corps.

The Air Ambulance Service as provided by the Air Corps is an emergency inter-hospital transfer service for the essential rapid transfer of patients requiring urgent medical treatment. The service is not designed for the repatriation of Irish citizens who fall ill or who are the victims of accidents while overseas. The service is provided by the Air Corps in the following circumstances:

1. Inter-hospital transfer of patients with spinal or other serious injury or illness;

2. Air transport of Neonates requiring immediate medical intervention in Ireland;

3. Air transport of patients requiring specialised emergency treatment in the UK;

4. Air Transport of Organ Retrieval Teams within Ireland;

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

6. Air Transport of paediatric patients (> 6 weeks <16 years) requiring immediate medical intervention.Air Ambulance transportation from the US is not covered under this agreement.>