Irish Examiner view: Emergency action needed

Ambulance delays

The Oireachtas health committee heard that ambulance crews can journey between 500km-700km in a day when they are despatched on county-to-county incidents.  Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Under normal circumstances the drive from Castletownbere to Slea Head might be one of the most pleasant road trips around Western Ireland. Some stunning sea scenery, a skirt around Killarney national park, the opportunity for a good pub lunch along the way.

But under different constraints and time penalties, such as driving an ambulance to an emergency, it could assume nightmarish proportions.