Ambulance target times ‘cannot be met’

A leaked Health Service Executive report has warned life-saving ambulance call-out target times may need to be extended or removed because they cannot be met in isolated, rural areas — the second time the claim has been made in a month.

The latest hint at the highly controversial move has been made in a draft document on ambulance service capacity, which said the system “cannot possibly achieve” the times.

According to the document, a draft version of which is due to be signed off on by senior management in the coming days, Ireland’s ambulance fleet is not capable of meeting eight-minute emergency call-out times in rural areas.