Kilcar man (86) left waiting for Roscommon ambulance

By Róise Collins

A DONEGAL Senator has demanded an urgent review of the National Ambulance Service after an 86-year-old man was left waiting almost two hours for an ambulance from Roscommon following a fall outside his home in Kilcar.

Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Manus Boyle described the incident, which took place on Saturday, April 26. He said the man’s daughter called emergency services at 11.02am, only to be told that no ambulances were available anywhere in the Donegal.

“That is hard to believe for a county of this size,” Senator Boyle said.

The nearest available unit was dispatched from Boyle, Roscommon, which is over 140 kilometres away. The caller was initially told it would take 55 minutes for the ambulance to arrive.

Concerned about the delay, she called again at 11.43am and was told it would be at least another 30 minutes.

The ambulance eventually arrived at 12.40pm; one hour and 40 minutes after the emergency call was made.

The elderly man arrived at the hospital three hours and 40 minutes after the first 999 call.

“That is totally unacceptable. The system is not working. I want an urgent review of the ambulance service,” Senator Boyle stressed.

“Do rural communities not count for anything in Ireland? We are out on a limb in County Donegal.

“This is the fourth time I have brought this up since I was first elected to this House. I ask for an urgent review to see what is going on with the ambulance service.”

“I will keep bringing this up until somebody listens,” Senator Boyle added.

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