Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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49. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with ambulance response times; the terms of references for the Health Information and Quality Authority review of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6930/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The National Ambulance Service (NAS) uses the response time targets set out in the HSE National Service Plan. For ECHO (life-threatening cardiac or respiratory) 999 calls, the Service exceeded its 2013 response time target of 70% of patient-carrying vehicles on scene within 18 minutes 59 seconds. The DELTA (life-threatening other) response time performance was 4% below the national target of 68%. In 2014, the targets have increased to 80% for both call types.

I am aware that concerns have been raised recently concerning ambulance service response times. In the circumstances, I have asked HIQA to bring forward its planned review of pre-hospital emergency care, which had been due to commence in Q2 2014.  The Authority will review the governance arrangements of pre-hospital emergency care services to ensure the timely assessment, diagnosis, initial management and transport of an acutely ill patient to an appropriate healthcare facility. Planning for the review has now commenced and HIQA is currently in the process of designing an Assessment Framework against the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare.

I should also explain that the NAS 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.