'Concern' that people in emergencies left to wait 'more than two hours' for ambulances

Concerns have been raised following the revelation that the HSE's National Ambulance Service (NAS) has failed to meet response targets meaning some people are left to wait for more than two hours in an emergency situation. 

The national target is to respond to 75% of life-threatening cardiac and respiratory cases (Purple) and 45% of life-threatening illness or injury cases (Red) in just 19 minutes.

However, it was revealed at a briefing for today's Joint Committee on Health that these targets are not being met, particularly in the HSE West, North West, and Mid West regions, according to RTÉ. 

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The HSE says it aims to reduce the longest average waiting time from two hours to one and added that a three to five year strategy is being developed. 

The NAS saw an increase of 10% in emergency calls last year, with 430,000 recorded. 

Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Health, David Cullinane, said at the Committee that he was concerned that patients were left to wait over two hours for an emergency response.

The Health Service also aims to reduce ambulance turnaround times after arriving at emergency departments.

As it stands, the average turnaround time is 45 minutes but the HSE aims to reduce this to 20 minutes for 80% of cases.

The responsibility for this will lie with the hospital rather than the ambulance service.

In June of this year, the desired turnaround time was met in 57% of all cases.

However, Deputy Martin Daly told the Committee he was aware of times that it took four or five hours for ambulance turnaround.