Calls for HSE to publish report on ambulance withdrawal

Demands have been made that the HSE publish a review it was supposed to have undertaken into the effects of withdrawing an ambulance from North Cork amid claims that the move could end up costing lives.

The call was made at a county council meeting in Mallow yesterday where one councillor claimed his wife’s life could have been put in serious jeopardy because a paramedic crew got lost on its way to her after she suffered internal bleeding following open heart surgery.

The ambulance, based in Millstreet, was withdrawn by the HSE in 2013 and replaced by a one-person operated rapid response paramedic vehicle, which can not take patients to hospital.

Ambulances are instead covering the area from as far as Killarney and Newcastlewest and concerns have been raised that they are being delayed because their drivers don’t know the locality.

Independent councillor Tim Collins said the paramedic coming to his wife’s aid got lost and had to ring an ambulance for directions.

“Fortunately the ambulance had already arrived and that was simply because the driver was from Kanturk and actually knew the area,” said Mr Collins. “God knows what would have happened if he wasn’t on duty.”

He made his comments after Independent councillor John Paul O’Shea claimed some patients were waiting up to two and a half hours for an ambulance to come to Millstreet. He said this was simply unacceptable and potentially very dangerous.

“I’m told 90% of call-outs to the Millstreet area end up requiring an ambulance and they come from as far away as Killarney, Fermoy, Macroom or Newcastlewest. This isn’t on,” said Mr O’Shea.

“The closure of Mallow emergency department and the one at the South Infirmary also means that people in the Millstreet area rely on pre-hospital emergency treatment even more than ever. The ambulance service needs to be strengthened, not withdrawn or downgraded.”

He said he was also concerned for the safety of paramedics who were operating on their own at night in rural areas and who were often women.

Mr O’Shea said the HSE had promised to review the effects of the withdrawal of the ambulance 12 months on.

“This either never took place, or it was never published. I want it published and made available to the public,” he said.

Councillors supported his call that they write to the HSE on the matter.

Meanwhile, Mr Collins, who us a member of the HSE South Forum, said he would also raise the issue at its next meeting and demand answers to their questions.