Tag Archives: National Ambulance Service

AMBULANCE services in Clare came under the spotlight at the monthly meeting of Clare County Council, when a call was made to review the deployment system.  Councillor Ian Lynch demanded that the Health Minister review the ‘dynamic deployment’ process operated by the National Ambulance Service (NAS), asserting that the system does not work in rural areas.  “I have been raising this issue since I’ve been elected,” the Independent member said, “and it has been falling on deaf ears. The service is under-funded across the country and to talk about international best practice and dynamic deployment is a smokescreen. “That’s fine in urban centres, but it doesn’t work in rural Ireland. I have had contact from Waterford, Galway and Mayo on this and if someone who is a critical patient has to wait 90 minutes for an ambulance, it’s clear that the system isn’t working.” The Kilrush man noted recent tributes to the emergency services by broadcaster Marty Morrissey. On The …

A CLARE Dáil Deputy has called for increased resources for the ambulance service after personnel assisted her to have her sixth child outside Kilrush Golf Club on Monday, writes Dan Danaher. The ambulance that collected Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne didn’t even make it to University Maternity Hospital Limerick in time and the baby girl, who weighed 6.10oz was delivered in the ambulance beside Kilrush Golf Course. Having commenced her maternity leave in January, Deputy Wynne’s due date was not until March but she instinctively suspected it would be early. Mother and baby are doing well and the Kilrush-based Deputy was due to be discharged on Wednesday evening. She told The Clare Champion that she is delighted with her new baby. “I am over the moon to announce the arrival of my sixth child. Albeit an eventful labour and birth, I couldn’t be happier to be holding her in my arms. “I am thrilled to welcome the newest member of our family …

Councillor calls for changes to dispatch procedures as busy resort left without cover A KILRUSH-based ambulance was tasked to attend an incident in Cork last summer leaving West Clare without cover during a population explosion from 1,000 to 15,000 locals and holidaymakers in Kilkee. That’s the assertion made by Councillor Cillian Murphy at a HSE West Forum meeting where he requested the operational procedures for dispatchers in the National Ambulance Service be amended. The Kilkee councillor wants to ensure an estimated time of arrival by the ambulance to the required location is provided, based on the current real time situation, as a matter of form rather than as a response to a caller request. Councillor Murphy said people working in the ambulance service are becoming increasingly frustrated with the use of the ambulance as a “taxi service”. “If the public were given an approximate time for the ambulance to be on site based on how acute the need was, I …

ALMOST 40,000 vaccines against Covid-19 were delivered by the UL Hospitals’ Group over the last two weeks, new figures have revealed.  The group delivered 110,127 doses of vaccine across the Mid-West up to the close of business on Tuesday, June 2, according to figures obtained by the Clare Champion.  It achieved a significant milestone by clocking up 150,000 vaccine doses on Wednesday since the regional programme got underway on January 4. This figure does not include the vaccines delivered by colleagues in HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare, the National Ambulance Service and General Practitioners. Pharmacists are also delivering vaccines from this week. In recent times, the group has been aware of a number of instances in which SMS text message appointment confirmations have directed people to centres other than those closest to their homes. Similar incidents have been reported in other parts of the country over the past few days.  The group has been working to identify and contact people who …

AS the 14-day incidence of Covid-19 continues to fall in Clare, the UL Hospitals’ Group has confirmed it has treated 1,241 confirmed cases over a one-year period. According to figures produced by the National Disease Surveillance Centre, there were 533 cases recorded in Limerick, 167 in Clare and 306 in Tipperary from February 16 to March 1. However, the number of Covid-19 cases in the Mid-West dropped from February 23 to March 8, with 401 cases recorded in Limerick, 215 in Tipperary and 129 in Clare. The 14-day incidence in Limerick fell from fourth to sixth highest in the country at 205%, compared to Tipperary, which is 14th highest on 134% and Clare is the 15th highest on 108% recently. The national 14-day incidence of the disease was 161% at the time. One year since the first Covid-19-related admission to University Hospital Limerick, the group has confirmed 64 patients required admission to ICU over a 12-month period. Group chief executive, …

A WEST Clare paramedic has revealed she thought she would die as she battled to breathe in an intensive care unit after contracting a very severe bout of Covid-19. Paula King Delaney (41) is still being treated for the virus in Tullamore Regional Hospital after she tested positive on September 14. While the Quilty mother-of-two understands people are frustrated with the extent of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, she has appealed to everyone to comply with all public health guidelines and adopt a healthy respect for the virus. “Covid-19 doesn’t care who you are and what age you are or what condition you have or haven’t got. It very dangerous and vicious. “I would urge everyone to do what they can when they can to minimise the spread of the virus. I am not judging anyone, I just want people to protect themselves. “I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what I am going through ever. I wouldn’t wish it on my …

THE Civil Defence unit in Clare is among the most active in the country, with members taking part in 32 different activities in the first three months of the year. Civil Defence volunteers are on standby to assist in a range of activities – from missing person searches to manning sporting events. In fact, one of the roles played by the Clare Civil Defence this year related to a search for a missing person in Clarecastle on January 30. The overall figures were confirmed just days after all of the country’s response agencies were honoured at Dublin Castle for their response to Storm Emma and Storm Ophelia. Among the workers present at the event on Tuesday were staff from Clare County Council, the Defence Forces, Civil Defence, National Ambulance Service, Irish Water, the Coastguard, An Garda Síochána, the HSE, the ESB, the fire service and other volunteer groups. It was confirmed at the event that the first Saturday of September will now be known …

Shannon Airport has today (Tuesday) conducted a crash-exercise to validate the combined response of the airport together with the support of the primary emergency agencies and other key stakeholders that would react to any aviation incident at the airport. Participating agencies include Shannon airport, Clare County Council, An Garda Síochána, Health Service Executive, National Ambulance Service and Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). Students from NUIG’s College of Hotel Management took on the varied roles of passengers, relatives and press. Commenting on the crash-exercise, Niall Maloney, airport operations director, said: “Crash-exercises are conducted every two years at Shannon Airport as a condition of its aerodrome licence and we use the opportunity then in conjunction with the other emergency services to test the regional major emergency plan and site specific arrangements for the airport. “The safety of our customer airlines, passengers and staff is paramount to us and today’s exercise allows us to test our readiness for a real life situation should it …