Written answers

Tuesday, 21 January 2014

Department of Health

Ambulance Service Response Times

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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653. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm that on 13 January 2013 an ambulance based in Drogheda was providing cover in Navan and as a result took 30 minutes to respond to an emergency call in respect of a woman who had collapsed on West Street in Drogheda; the reason the ambulance was providing cover in Navan; his views views on whether these response times are satisfactory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2839/14]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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HIQA published its Pre-hospital Emergency Care Key Performance Indicators for Emergency Response Times in 2011, classifying 112/999 emergency calls by clinical status. Clinical Status 1 ECHO calls involve life-threatening emergencies of cardiac or respiratory origin. Clinical Status 1 DELTA calls involve life-threatening emergencies of other than cardiac or respiratory origin.

Since they were introduced in 2011, the HSE has been implementing the HIQA response time standards on a phased basis, in tandem with planned service improvements. In 2013, NAS exceeded the National Service Plan response time target for ECHO calls of 70% of patient-carrying vehicles on scene within 18 minutes 59 seconds. The DELTA response time performance was however 4% below the national target of 68%. In 2014, the targets have increased to 80% for both call types.

It is acknowledged that sole reliance on response times to measure performance is restrictive and a poor reflection of ambulance service work. Therefore, in line with many other jurisdictions, we are working to develop clinical outcome indicators for pre-hospital emergency responses. The first outcome indicator, for the return of spontaneous circulation in the Emergency Department in 40% of certain out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, has been introduced in the 2014 Service Plan.

HIQA, as part of its Business Plan for 2014, and in line with its programme for the monitoring of the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, will review the governance and management arrangements of pre-hospital emergency care services to include the timely call-handling, response, assessment, diagnosis, care and transportation of the acutely ill patient to the appropriate healthcare facility. This review had been due to commence in the 2nd quarter of 2014; however, in light of a number of recent incidents, the Authority has agreed to my request to commence the review in quarter 1. I understand that the review will focus initially on the governance arrangements for the service and how those arrangements translate into the safety, quality and effectiveness of services for patients.

I would also like to inform the Deputy that the National Ambulance Service will undertake its own capacity review to determine current and future service delivery needs. This process will examine a number of areas, including staff numbers and skill mix, as well as resource distribution.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific information requested.

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