Time is running out to save ICRR air ambulance
THE imminent grounding of the Irish Community Rapid Response charity air ambulance will leave thousands of communities stranded and put lives in Kerry at risk – and TD Michael Healy-Rae said the warning signs have gone unheeded for months.
Operators Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR) sent out a stark warning after it emerged the service is to be indefinitely grounded from Friday as its funding reserves reach breaking point.
Despite implementing sweeping cost-cutting measures, including the laying off of non-essential staff and cutting the hours of remaining staff, which in turn reduced operating times, the cancellation of fundraising events for the service due to the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt it a brutal and potentially devastating blow. ICRR operations manager Ruth Bruton said it was with deep regret they have taken the decision to take the ambulance – which has flown more that 351 missions since it first took to the sky last summer, each costing in the region of €3,500 – out of service.
“We are incredibly upset that lives will be lost due to the grounding of the service at this time, especially given how vital front-line medical support is during the COVID-19 pandemic and given how successful it has been to date,” said Ms Bruton.
She said that success was down to donations and the money raised through various fundraising events. However, the latter funding stream has now been completely “extinguished” due to the sweeping restrictions imposed on public events following the Coronavirus outbreak.
“Our sincere thanks go to the people of Ireland, who have supported this service and kept it flying for the last eight months. You have all been a part of a community that has saved hundreds of lives and impacted many, many families,” said Ms Bruton.
She said that as a final resort ICRR had written to the Government seeking interim financial support for the service, but had yet to receive a reply.
“The board at ICRR are distraught at having to cease operations during the current crisis. We need supports to keep this vital front-line service flying as cardiac arrest, strokes, farming accidents and road-traffic collisions will still occur during the COVID-19 crisis,” she said.
Michael Healy-Rae said he appreciates that the government is currently dealing with an unprecedented health crisis – but that doesn’t change the fact that the warning flags were raised long before COVID-19.
“This is flagged with a long, long time, that it was in trouble financially,” he told The Kerryman. “The statistics are frightening. The helicopter can go from Rathcoole to Kenmare in 12 minutes and cover any part of Munster in 25 minutes. So it is shocking beyond belief that the Department of Health are going to let us lose this invaluable service. It has saved lives, and saved hardship.”