Feighan receives Department of Health confirmation that Air Ambulance service to continue pending completion of review

Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has been informed by the Department of Health that the Air Ambulance service (Emergency Aeromedical Support  Service) will continue pending the Minister for Health’s receipt and consideration of the report on the review of the pilot service.
 
“I understand that the review is nearing completion and the report is expected to be presented to Minister James Reilly shortly. However, I have been informed that the EAS will continue until such a time; indeed a formal agreement on the interim continuation of the EAS service was put in place last Thursday, June 6th.
 
“I understand Minister Reilly has agreed with his colleague, the Minister for Defence, Alan Shatter, an extension of aeromedical support by the Air Corps to the EAS for a period of up to three months, pending Minister Reilly’s receipt and consideration of the review report.
 
“Since its launch, the Air Ambulance has played a key role in providing critical air support options in response to major emergencies in catchment areas of smaller hospitals such as Roscommon Hospital. Indeed, the County Hospital itself has been used as a landing base for the helicopter on a number of occasions as it responded to local emergencies in the catchment area.
 
“The service has now made almost 250 time critical missions from its base at Custume Barracks. These emergency call-outs have dealt with a range of emergency situations, more than half of them involving cardiac and trauma cases.

“I strongly lobbied to ensure that the Air Ambulance, with advanced paramedic crew on board, came into place as a matter of urgency.  Since the review commenced, I have continually highlighted the clear need for such a service to continue into the long-term given its key role in the region’s emergency response infrastructure.”