Connemara ambulance group calls for base

Anton McNulty

A STEERING group calling for an ambulance base in Leenane area have requested that TDs negotiating the formation of a new government ensure the issue is on the agenda for discussion and agreement.
The Ambulance Crisis Steering Group are campaigning for a new HSE ambulance base to be located in the Leenane/Maam area to cover the north west Connemara area. At present, people in the region have had to wait up to three hours for an ambulance from call out time to the time of arrival, and an additional hour to travel to hospital.
The group met with the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar in December to outline their concerns and he informed members of the group that €7 million has been allocated for medical services in west Galway. He also reassured the group that he will raise their concerns when he meets with the National Ambulance Service.
Patricia Keane, Ambulance Crisis Steering Group has called on those negotiating the formation of a new government to ensure their plight is part of the agenda.
“I would like to request that during the negotiations between parties regarding the formation of a government, that they make this crucial issue of providing an adequate ambulance service to this area (and indeed all rural areas) an issue to be put on the agenda for discussion and agreement. It is of the utmost importance to the people living in this area,” she said.
Since their meeting with the Minister in December, the group received correspondents from the Minister’s office who said a rapid response vehicle, crewed by an advanced paramedic, may offer a more effective model of pre-hospital emergency care for the needs of the area.  
“This resource could be used to ensure that a patient receives advanced life support, at the scene, prior to the arrival of an ambulance,” he said in his correspondence.
Ms Keane said that while this was a good thing it did not address the time an ambulance has to arrive.
“Although this would be a good thing in itself, we would still have patients waiting two, three and possibly four hours for the ambulance to actually arrive at patient - which is our main concern all along.
“We feel sure you agree that this is one of the most important issues in the country - that of getting the people to hospital as quickly as possible - in life threatening situations,” she concluded.