Bizarre regional variation in ambulance response times – Naughten

In Health by Denis Naughten

First regional breakdown shows response times in capital worse than many rural areas

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The National Ambulance Service is failing to meet HIQA response time standards for one out of every four life-threatening 999 calls by not having an ambulance at the scene within 19 minutes. In addition, the first ever regional breakdown of the figures shows that urban centres and not just rural areas are left waiting for life saving ambulances, Denis Naughten TD has revealed.

The HIQA standard states that an ambulance should be at the scene of a life-threatening call (ECHO & DELTA) within 19 minutes in 85% of cases. However in reality just 65% of all 999 calls are meeting that response time meaning that one in every four life-threatening calls, to which HIQA standards apply, fails to comply with those standards.

“What is even more revealing is the disclosure by the HSE of the first regional breakdown of these figures. In counties Roscommon, Mayo and Galway just one in every two ambulances arrive within 19 minutes. However, it is not just rural areas. In Dublin City just two out of every three ambulances arrive within 19 minutes,” stated Denis Naughten.

“The fact that Dublin city has a poorer record than some more rural areas, such as the Mid-West of the country, clearly highlights the fact that the ambulance system is just not working.

“Yet despite this it seems that HIQA is not in a position to do anything about it. While HIQA is setting standards it has no role in reviewing or investigating the service. It seems bizarre that HIQA can say that a service is a hospital is unsafe but yet has no control over the replacement ambulance service.”

“Every year 3,000-5,000 people die from heart attacks and the survival rate for someone who has a heart attack outside of hospital is just one in 15. Annually about 10,000 people suffer a stroke and about 2,000 die each year and again access to hospital treatment is the difference between being able to walk out of hospital or not,” stated Denis Naughten.

“The fact is that delays in responding to life-threatening 999 calls and further delays in getting to hospital puts patients at a far higher risk of dying or having serious long term complications on foot of delayed treatments,” concluded Denis Naughten.

Latest response time figures attached:
Letter from HSE | Figures