Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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73. To ask the Minister for Health the progress in improving emergency vehicle response times in rural areas and in Connemara, County Galway, in particular; if the stationing of ambulances at primary care centres or local hospital facilities and the introduction of advance emergency vehicles, with a paramedic, is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3887/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Over the past few years, the National Ambulance Service (NAS) has undertaken very significant reconfiguration, and modernisation, of its services. The NAS now operates on a national and regional, rather than a local, basis. Ambulance resources, including rapid response vehicles with advanced paramedics, are dynamically deployed over an area, from individual stations within, and surrounding, that area. This helps to ensure that optimum cover is provided, and that the NAS is best placed to respond to incidents as they arise. In the Connemara area, for example, resources, including a rapid response vehicle, are located strategically at bases in Clifden, Carraroe, Galway, Loughrea, Tuam and Ballinasloe.

I understand that the NAS Capacity review has now been completed and will inform how NAS deploys resources across specific areas in the future. The review involved a comprehensive analysis of overall resource levels and their distribution against demand and activity. It will help NAS identify where resources should be placed to best meet the needs of the service at national and regional level, including from bases outside traditional ambulance stations. For example, in Connemara, a rapid response vehicle, crewed by an advanced paramedic, may offer a more effective model of pre-hospital emergency care for the needs of the area. This resource could be used to ensure that a patient receives advanced life support, at the scene, prior to the arrival of an ambulance.

I also draw the Deputy's attention to the Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) Service which was established on a permanent basis last year. This very valuable service ensures that seriously ill or injured people, in more remote areas, have timely access to appropriate, high quality clinical care. The EAS is targeted mainly at western counties, where the road network may not allow for rapid transport to the nearest appropriate hospital. Helicopter-based transport for these patients allows for greatly reduced transit times, particularly for time-critical transfers such as STEMI heart attacks, stroke or major trauma. Last year, the EAS received over 800 requests for medical assistance and completed 400 aeromedical missions. University Hospital Galway received 143 EAS-transferred patients.

Additional funding of €7.2m provided in the National Service Plan will provide for further improvements in 2016, and ensure that response times are maintained. This includes €2m to recruit and train extra staff and expand the Community First Responder (CFR) Scheme. The CFR Scheme trains and supports local volunteer groups to respond to cardiac emergencies and is, I believe, particularly important in rural areas such as Connemara. The NAS will continue to work with CFR Ireland to develop CFR schemes within the area to enhance patient care delivery. They are also engaging with HSE Estates regarding the utilisation of new primary care centres as ambulance deployment points.