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The Emergency Aeromedical Service will be based in Athlone for a 12-month trial. Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

HSE and Air Corps' new air ambulance makes first call

The Emergency Aeromedical Service is a joint project between the HSE National Ambulance Service and the Irish Air Corps.

THE NEW air ambulance service jointly run by the HSE and the Irish Air Corps has completed its first call-out.

The Emergency Aeromedical Service was called into action yesterday to treat a woman who had been injured in a farm accident.

The helicopter, which is based at Custume Barracks in Athlone, reached its destination at Castleplunkett, Co Roscommon, 13 minutes after being requested by a medical team treating her at the location.

The patient, aged 26, was treated on board the helicopter while she was being flown to Galway University Hospital, a journey which took 11 minutes.

The programme is originally running on a 12-month basis in order to ascertain if Ireland requires a permanent air ambulance service. Yesterday, Monday, was its first day in operation.

Health minister Dr James Reilly said the pilot programme would allow the HSE to determine exactly the extent and type of airborne medical support that would be required on a longer-term basis.

Dr Cathal O’Donnell, the medical director of the HSE’s National Ambulance Service, paid tribute to the hard work of his unit and the Air Corps to get the service up and running, and said he was pleased that the patient was able to benefit from the rapid transport.

Read: Three lifeboat operations see 20 people rescued over weekend

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    Mute Saul Cusack
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    May 25th 2017, 4:25 PM

    Very sad. I’ve often visited this Camphill community centre and it was a beautiful place for residents to live with land, animals, gardens and buildings. Lots of young Europeans volunteering years of their lives to provide an alternative option for living to people who would otherwise spend their lives in dull institutions having their senses dulled by chemical restraint.

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    Mute Just Me
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    May 25th 2017, 4:31 PM

    Don’t think transferring it to the HSE will make it any better, with their record on mental health facilities .

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    Mute Mary Walshe
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    May 25th 2017, 6:15 PM

    I too have visited Camphill Ballytobin, and was really impressed by the interaction between staff and residents. What better way to live for people with disabilities, than being to assist in food production and crafting, and being at one with nature, while being allowed to progress at their own pace. Far better than being locked up in an institution. Let’s hope this isn’t another bureaucratic exercise by Hiqua! The HSE’s past record in looking after those with disabilities, leaves a lot to be desired.

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    May 25th 2017, 4:55 PM

    The Camphill model was such a nice one. This is very sad to read indeed.

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    Mute PVD
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    May 25th 2017, 4:57 PM

    Hopefully these services can be brought up to an appropriate standard and continue to operate . We need to protect the most vulnerable as are many of the people attending these services .
    Staff and managers running these services have a responsibility too plus resources from Government and HSE let’s hope it’s a move for better in relation to the lives of the people using the service.

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    May 25th 2017, 6:28 PM

    I just cannot trust this government or the welfare of the disadvantaged it’s responsible for.
    Budgets come before welfare. They seem to be able to find reasons to, in this case, stop a well run, people orientated, facility for the disabled, and hand it over to the HSE, an organisation that’s nothing else but a gravy train for the execs and managers.
    Only time will tell.

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    Mute Lynn2380
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    May 26th 2017, 9:11 AM

    Does anyone know why volunteers are no longer allowed because HSE are taking over? I can’t understand why HIQA keep handing over these centres to the HSE when there is a clear record of HSE running such places into the ground, feel so distressed reading this.

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