Volunteer doctor responded to 131 emergency call-outs in 2017

Anton McNulty

A VOLUNTARY emergency call-out service manned by a single doctor responded to 131 emergency call-outs in Mayo in 2017. These included three call-outs before lunchtime on Christmas Day alone.
The Mayo Irish Community Rapid Response’s end-of-year statistics showed that it was a particularly busy 12 months for their volunteer doctor, Dr Jason Horan. He provided a total of 105 hours of voluntary advanced medical care to 128 patients. The call outs included 14 cardiac arrests, eight road traffic collisions and four sick children.
Dr Horan is a is a consultant in emergency medicine at Mayo University Hospital, and he volunteers with Mayo ICRR out of hours and at weekends, as well as responding during the working day.
The Mayo branch of ICRR was set up by Dr Horan in 2015 with the aim of bringing critical care skills to the patient’s side quickly, so they do not have to wait until they reach hospital. By providing early advanced medical care, pain can be relieved, disability can be reduced and survival rates can be improved. According to the Mayo ICRR, “This frees up valuable pre-hospital resources and avoids an unnecessary wait in the Emergency Department.” Mayo ICRR has just taken delivery of a new Renault Kadjar, one of a fleet of vehicles donated to Irish Community Rapid Response by Renault Ireland.
The organisation is also looking forward to some new equipment in 2018, which will extend its to provide safer and better care to the community.
Mayo ICRR relies on the support of the local community it serves. To become involved, visit www.mayoicrr.ie/help.