Clare senator highlights 'serious concerns' with ambulance availability across Banner county
Fianna Fail senator raised concerns in Seanad following incident at Cliffs of Moher
Clare Senator Timmy Dooley has said he has “serious concerns” with ambulance resources and availability in Clare after an incident involving a cardiac arrest at the Cliffs of Moher where it took over an hour for an ambulance to arrive on the scene.
Senator Dooley, raising the issue in the Seanad on Tuesday, July 2, said that Clare is often left without a single ambulance in the county and highlighted further concerns with accessibility for emergency services to the Cliffs of Moher Experience.
He said: “I am extremely concerned that it took over an hour for an ambulance to attend the scene of a cardiac arrest, where a visitor tragically died at the Cliffs of Moher at the weekend.
“Furthermore, at the Cliffs of Moher experience, which has received extensive upgrade works, it can be difficult for emergency services to access the site. For example, on the walking trail, where gates could have been installed to allow for access by emergency services, walls were built instead.
“The Cliffs of Moher 2024 Strategy is in progress, and I am calling for accessibility for emergency services to the Cliffs to be at the forefront of the Strategy. Everything possible must be done to ensure staff and management are able to deal with tragic incidents, which sadly do continue to occur at the Cliffs.
“On an almost daily basis, the fire service in Clare is responding to medical calls because there is no ambulance available. This is extremely concerning, for patients and for emergency services personnel.
“I have contacted the HSE for further information on the incident at the Cliffs at the weekend, asking why there was such a delay in emergency services attending the scene, why no air ambulance was deployed and seeking further information on ambulance resources and availability in the county.”
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