All-island air ambulance service discussed
Plans for an all-island air ambulance service that would guarantee lifesaving treatment in 90 minutes are being discussed by authorities on either side of the border.
Minister for Health Dr James Reilly said the pilot air ambulance service based in Athlone, Co Westmeath, was "extremely successful" and plans are now in place for its retention and an additional cross-border service.
Speaking at an event in Co Westmeath this morning, Mr Reilly said, "we have a report on hand now which suggests it (the Athlone-based service) has been extremely successful and that it should be kept going and we are examining how to make that happen."
He revealed he had been in talks with Northern Ireland's Minister for Health Edwin Poots yesterday.
"We were examining how we might extend the service through the addition of a helicopter service in the north of Ireland," he explained.
Mr Reilly said a Northern Ireland based service "could extend into the northern regions of the country and allow our air ambulance service extend further south so that we have an all-island approach."
Should the plans succeed he said: "we can give everybody that guarantee that if they have got a major life-threatening event they are going to get seen, for instance if they have a heart attack, they will be able to get somewhere where they can have a stent done within 90 minutes everywhere in the country."
According to Mr Reilly, a huge amount of co-operative work is already ongoing with the health services in Northern Ireland.
"There is massive opportunity here, and of course both Minister Poots and I are acutely aware of the fact that there are several different funds available from Europe around cross border innovative approaches to healthcare," he explained.
In terms of funding, Mr Reilly said he and his Northern Ireland counterpart are "examining how to leverage those to improve health services both sides of the border."
Minister for Health Dr James Reilly said the pilot air ambulance service based in Athlone, Co Westmeath, was "extremely successful" and plans are now in place for its retention and an additional cross-border service.
Speaking at an event in Co Westmeath this morning, Mr Reilly said, "we have a report on hand now which suggests it (the Athlone-based service) has been extremely successful and that it should be kept going and we are examining how to make that happen."
He revealed he had been in talks with Northern Ireland's Minister for Health Edwin Poots yesterday.
"We were examining how we might extend the service through the addition of a helicopter service in the north of Ireland," he explained.
Mr Reilly said a Northern Ireland based service "could extend into the northern regions of the country and allow our air ambulance service extend further south so that we have an all-island approach."
Should the plans succeed he said: "we can give everybody that guarantee that if they have got a major life-threatening event they are going to get seen, for instance if they have a heart attack, they will be able to get somewhere where they can have a stent done within 90 minutes everywhere in the country."
According to Mr Reilly, a huge amount of co-operative work is already ongoing with the health services in Northern Ireland.
"There is massive opportunity here, and of course both Minister Poots and I are acutely aware of the fact that there are several different funds available from Europe around cross border innovative approaches to healthcare," he explained.
In terms of funding, Mr Reilly said he and his Northern Ireland counterpart are "examining how to leverage those to improve health services both sides of the border."
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