Concerns raised after ambulance took over 90 minutes to arrive at crash scene

Slieve Gullion councillor Oonagh Magennis shared her unease after the crash took place on March 20.

Two men were left injured, one seriously, following the collision on the Tandragee Road.

“Despite the injuries facing both men, they were left waiting over 90 minutes for an Ambulance to arrive,” said the Sinn Fein representative.

“For any patients, particularly those in a serious condition, this is a waiting time which does pose very real concerns.

“We have written to the Southern Trust, asking for an explanation as to why these patients were kept waiting for so long.

“The ongoing pressure facing our Health Service also extends to our ambulance service. It is clear that many patients are facing unacceptable waiting times in emergency care and this is just one of the many consequences of a decade of Tory austerity on local services. Our ambulance crews do amazing, life saving work under extremely challenging circumstances and they need to be properly resourced and supported. Investing in the Health service to tackle ambulance waiting times must be a priority for the Health Minister to improve ambulance wait times for rural communities such as South Armagh.”

The Southern Trust said it was a matter for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) as they don’t manage ambulances. NIAS did not respond to our query.

However, a Department of Health spokesperson said: “It is recognised that ambulance waiting times are symptomatic of broader pressures on the urgent and emergency care system and to address these delays, a wider-system approach is required.

“The Department has already taken a number of steps to reduce ambulance waiting times, working together with NIAS and Trusts to implement initiatives to improve patient flow through the urgent and emergency care system, provide additional pathways as alternatives to conveying patients to the Emergency Department, and to ensure timely discharge for patients who no longer require hospital care."

Funding has also been allocated for additional Hospital Ambulance Liaison Officers at main hospital sites while a commitment has been given to provide funding to recruit the first cohort due to graduate from the new Paramedic Degree this June.