Ambulance service cuts ‘will cause deaths’

A MOTHER whose daughter’s life was saved by a West Cork ambulance crew has backed a campaign fighting HSE plans to re-configure the service.

Emily O’Sullivan believes the only reason that her two-year-old is alive is because of the rapid response of the ambulance crew who rushed her from Skibbereen to Cork University Hospital (CUH).

“We believe if they had not got her to hospital so quickly we would not have her here with us today,” she said.

Emily is one of dozens of people who have shared their stories ahead of a public meeting in Skibbereen on Friday to discuss the HSE’s proposals.

Following a Labour Court ruling on the on-call allowance in the ambulance service, the HSE has drafted proposals to cut 24-hour ambulance cover in parts of the HSE South region.

It includes proposals to remove ambulance cover from Skibbereen and Castletownbere between 8pm and 8am, to be replaced by two rapid response vehicles.

And in the second phase, the HSE plans to restore the 24-hour ambulance cover in Castletownbere, but not in Skibbereen.

Mother-of-three Delia Jackson said the proposals are “frightening”.

“We have a service that’s completely inadequate as it is. We are pleading with the HSE to improve the ambulance service — not take any more from it,” she said.

Her three-year-old son suffered a potentially serious head injury in a fall.

Blood was pouring from his ear and he had a large gash at the back of his head.

She rushed him to South Doc in Skibbereen and was told that he would need a complete head scan to rule out a skull fracture or brain injury.

But the doctor was told that an ambulance would not be available for 40 minutes.

Ms Jackson had to drive her son at speed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) where luckily, a scan revealed no serious injury.

In another incident, she broke her back in a fall from a roof.

An ambulance was on the scene within 10 minutes and she made a full recovery.

Ms Jackson said her son’s accident highlights how overstretched the West Cork ambulance service already is, and her own accident highlights how important a proper ambulance cover is.

Natalie Webb said she lost a dangerous amount of blood during a home birth. An ambulance arrived and the crew began blood transfusions.

Natalie said the crew was brilliant and got her to hospital quickly.

“They saved my life,” she said.

Skibbereen Mayor Frank Fahy has urged people to attend the public meeting.

He said: “Having served in all ranks of the fire service to the rank of station officer of Skibbereen for the last 25 of my 46 years service, I am acutely aware of the operation of the emergency services and have no doubt that this curtailment of the ambulance service will cause deaths in this area and further aggravation of serious injuries and illnesses.”

* The meeting takes place in the West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen, at 8pm next Friday.