Tuesday 25 March 2014

Crisis-hit ambulance service 'puts lives at risk'


A crisis in Ireland's national ambulance service means seriously ill patients are often not being reached within an acceptable time.
Up to seven out of 10 people in Ireland with life-threatening conditions are not getting the services of ambulance paramedics within internationally accepted normal response times, according to a 'Prime Time' investigation to be broadcast tonight.
Lives are regularly put at risk because of the service's inability to get to homes or accident scenes within target times, it will say.
Programme makers also claim that long delays caused by a lack of locally based ambulances are resulting in patients not getting the life-saving treatment on time.
These delays far exceed both national and international accepted norms.
In accordance with guidelines based on international standards, patients with life threatening emergencies should be treated by a first responder within eight minutes.

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