Connemara ambulance service ‘only on paper’

Galway County Councillor Daithí Ó Cualáin (FF) said a new ambulance service for Connemara was announced with ‘much fanfare’ by the HSE after a lengthy campaign by locals.

But he claimed that the North Connemara ambulance crew is based mostly in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, and not County Galway.

“They start their shift and end their shift in Clifden but they spend most of their time in Ballinrobe,” he fumed.

Cllr Ó Cualáin told the latest HSE West Regional Health Forum that this was not what the people of Connemara had campaigned for when they lobbied for ambulance cover.

He said that the ambulance crew based in An Cheathrú Rua was being “pulled into Galway”, which left the Conamara Gaeltacht exposed.

He added that with the rising cost of fuel, it was not an efficient use of ambulance resources.

Cllr Ó Cualáin, a nurse, welcomed confirmation from the HSE that it intends to lodge a planning application in July or August of this year to covert the old health centre in Recess into an ambulance base to serve North Connemara.

John Joe McGowan, Chief Ambulance Officer HSE West, said the preparation of planning documents for the project was “at an advanced stage”.

Mr McGowan said that the North Connemara crews of Emergency Ambulance and Rapid Response vehicle currently commence and end their shifts in Clifden.

He said that during their shift they are “dynamically deployed within the area”.

If An Cheathrú Rua and Clifden crews are out on jobs, then they provide cover. If both Clifden and An Cheathrú Rua are at their stations, “they cover in Ballinrobe deployment point until such time as they are required back in either Clifden or An Cheathrú Rua”.

Mr McGowan insisted this was a “temporary measure” until the building in Recess is ready.