Local TD Denis Naughten has welcomed the Government announcement of a permanent air ambulance service to be based at Custume Barracks in Athlone.
“The pilot service which was introduced just over 3 years ago has been a phenomenal success, transporting over 1,000 people to hospital over that period”
“I have no doubt that were it not for this service, many of those people would not be around to tell of the excellent treatment which they received from the dedicated aeromedical team”.
“The fact that this important service has now been put on a permanent basis is not to be underestimated, because back in July 2011 the then Minister for Health was reported to have stated that the importance of an air ambulance service “probably lay in its psychological support rather than the actual use of it itself’.
“Not only has the air ambulance service proved the Minister wrong, but I’m glad, that after a lot of work behind the scenes, this will now be a permanent part of our emergency services”
“As someone who has campaigned my entire political career for a dedicated air ambulance service, this is a significant step forward. In fact it is now just over 16 years since I first raised such a proposal with the then Health Minister, Brian Cowen [see attached reply]. I have campaigned for this service not only because it would clearly save lives, but also because it would help to provide a valuable back up to smaller A&E departments which could then introduce a stabilise and transfer protocol for all patients which would meet the best possible international standards”.
“Over time I would like to see this service expanded by providing 24 hour a day service and with the provision of an additional helicopter, but having said that, this is a very positive and welcome development” concluded Denis Naughten.
First Dáil reply on this issue from 1999.
Written Answers – Air Ambulance Service.Thursday, 22 April 1999
81. Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce an air ambulance service for call-out to road accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10600/99]
Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen): Since 1965 an arrangement has been in place whereby the Air Corps provides air ambulance transport to health boards for emergency cases. This service is generally provided in emergencies requiring the removal of badly injured or very ill persons over long distances, particularly where they cannot be safely conveyed by road ambulance. The service is also provided for the removal from the islands of persons requiring urgent hospital attention when weather conditions are such as to make boat transport impossible or hazardous to the patient. Since August 1991, the marine search and rescue helicopter service of the Department of the Marine, which operates from Shannon airport, is also available for air ambulance transport in cases of emergency.
I am aware of the role which a dedicated air ambulance service could play in enhancing the effectiveness of the ambulance service. However, proposals for the development of an air ambulance service must be placed in the wider context of developments in emergency medical services generally and any initiative in this area must complement other pre-hospital resources such as the ambulance service and first responder programme. The particular role of air ambulance was examined by the standing committee on air ambulance services. The standing committee undertook a detailed examination of a number of independent proposals for the establishment of a dedicated helicopter emergency medical service which were received from groups interested in this area. Meetings took place with a number of these groups.
Following these meetings, officials of my Department have worked with other interested parties to clarify a number of issues regarding needs, costs and benefits deriving from having a dedicated and purpose-equipped air ambulance service.
I remain committed to further improving pre-hospital care services and I have allocated an additional £2.7 million for developments in the field of pre-hospital care in 1999. This funding represents the largest ever increase in resources for this area and will assist considerably in improving emergency medical services.