Child ‘lucky to be alive’ after ambulance delay

CALLS have been made for the Health Minister and the National Ambulance Service to conduct an investigation after a toddler’s life was put at risk by an ambulance delay.

An ambulance was called for the two-year-old boy last Friday at around 5pm after he began to choke and had difficulty breathing while at the home of relatives in Carraroe, Co Galway. The boy and his family, who are based in the US, were home to visit family. His mother rang 999 and was told an ambulance was on the way.

The anxious family decided to travel in the direction of the ambulance and were given a Garda escort. However, it was not until they reached Rahoon, minutes from University Hospital Galway, that they met the ambulance. Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh is calling for an investigation into the matter, claiming the delay put the little boy’s life at risk.

“I understand that the child had to be resuscitated at least twice on the way in to hospital and is very lucky to be alive. He has since made a recovery.

“This case raises very serious issues about the deployment of ambulances in the region. Why did it take so long in the case of this emergency for the ambulance to reach this child?” he said.

Mr Ó Clochartaigh said questions needed to be answered as to where the ambulance had been deployed from and why no ambulance was available from the Carraroe station, which was minutes from the child’s home.

The National Ambulance Service did not respond to a request for comment.