The long-awaited review of the National Ambulance Service highlights significant problems with ambulance response times in Roscommon, Galway, and Mayo, according to local Minister for Communications, Denis Naughten.
The report points out that at present just one in four ambulances reaches a life-threatening emergency within the target time of 19 minutes in rural parts of the west of Ireland.
“These response times are by far the worst in the country and clearly show that urgent investment is now needed in both ambulances and staff in the west of Ireland,” Deputy Naughten said.
“While the response time figures prove what I have been pointing out for some years, the positive aspect of the report is that with investment we can see response times improve by 100 per cent. This report is just a starting point towards improving emergency health services locally, but a welcome one nonetheless.
“I will now be working with my colleague Minister Simon Harris to implement this report, particularly in addressing the poor response times in West Roscommon and East Mayo, which is Ireland’s only official ambulance blackspot without a dedicated ambulance service.”
