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Ireland to get air ambulance?

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  • 20-10-2007 10:38am
    #1
    highlydebased
    Registered Users Posts: 7,466 ✭✭✭


    Not too sure if this is right forum.....anyway


    Bored last night, found this page

    http://publicsafety.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=6320


    Apparently, funds are being raised to purchase three helicopters to be used as air ambulances in Ireland- one in Limerick, Cork and Donegal. Rather interesting.


    I wonder will they be operated by a third party or the HSE?


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    #2
    Tipsy Mac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,559 ✭✭✭Tipsy Mac


    Kind of a stupid idea, the injured person will get to the hospital super quick only to be put on a trolley for 2 or 3 days. Would be better spending the cash on sorting the mess out in the health service first and then go looking at getting people to the hospital quicker.


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    #3
    steve-o
    Registered Users Posts: 905 ✭✭✭steve-o


    Tipsy Mac wrote: »
    Kind of a stupid idea, the injured person will get to the hospital super quick only to be put on a trolley for 2 or 3 days. Would be better spending the cash on sorting the mess out in the health service first and then go looking at getting people to the hospital quicker.
    Kind of a stupid comment, IMO. The health service may be a disgrace, but air ambulances save lives by getting medics on-scene quickly and get trauma patients to hospital as fast as possible.

    In most countries they are financed through corporate sponsorship and public donations. It's shocking that Ireland has no dedicated service.


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    #4
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,813 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Yes there is a "golden hour" for trauma. Probably would pay for itself saving on more expensive long term treatment. Do/Did the Air Corps do this ?

    On Friday there were 38 cars in the bus lane on the Belgard Road blocking emergency service vehicles from SDCC's primary fire station. Getting people to hospital doesn't seem to be a priority.

    This from 2000
    http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7270/1176/a
    Up to 700 people die in the Republic of Ireland each year because of the slow response times of ambulances in rural areas, according to research by the country's Association of Ambulance Personnel


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    #5
    fricatus
    Registered Users Posts: 5,081 ✭✭✭fricatus


    Tipsy Mac wrote: »
    Kind of a stupid idea, the injured person will get to the hospital super quick only to be put on a trolley for 2 or 3 days. Would be better spending the cash on sorting the mess out in the health service first and then go looking at getting people to the hospital quicker.

    That's a ridiculous thing to say. Patients arriving at A&E are always subjected to triage, which means that the seriousness of their condition is quickly assessed and then they're prioritised on that basis.

    Anyone injured seriously enough to need ferrying to hospital by helicopter would not be left on a trolley waiting for treatment.

    If someone spends two or three days on a trolley, then sure, it's a disgrace, but it's not a matter of life and death. It just means that they're at the back of the queue. The length of that queue is determined by the number of patients arriving on one hand, and the resources available to deal with them, on the other.

    Anyone who's ever had to manage demand for limited resources knows that there's a certain level of "cranks", people who use the resources while not needing them, like the drunks and the hypochondriacs. Any attempt to put these people off showing up at A&E has to be balanced by the need not to discourage genuine patients from presenting.

    Sorry to sound insensitive to anyone lying on a trolley, but I think our A&E people in this country take enough stick as it is.


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    #6
    is_that_so
    Registered Users Posts: 32,136 ✭✭✭✭is_that_so


    Drivetime link here. 8 minutes or so. They seem to think it is feasible.


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    #7
    1huge1
    Registered Users Posts: 6,171 ✭✭✭1huge1


    Is there a helipad at the regional in limerick?


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    #8
    Poxyshamrock
    Registered Users Posts: 4,829 ✭✭✭Poxyshamrock


    1huge1 wrote: »
    Is there a helipad at the regional in limerick?

    nope


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    #9
    highlydebased
    Registered Users Posts: 7,466 ✭✭✭highlydebased


    I dont really think its an issue of trolleys etc here, its access to a patient in a remote area who needs medical attention- where getting an ambulance may be difficult/impractical (IE the mountains etc). It would be very worthwhile there being such a service available in my opinion

    The search and rescue helicopters have airlifted patients to hospital


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    #10
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,281 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    fricatus wrote: »
    Anyone who's ever had to manage demand for limited resources knows that there's a certain level of "cranks", people who use the resources while not needing them, like the drunks and the hypochondriacs. Any attempt to put these people off showing up at A&E has to be balanced by the need not to discourage genuine patients from presenting.
    What about the cranks that demand helicopters instead of fixing the health service?


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