One ambulance crew to service 3,000 calls

Local TD voices his concern over situation in Tuam

IN EXCESS of 3,000 calls were made to the Tuam ambulance base from January to August this year, a base that is served by just one ambulance crew, with the HSE confirming a second ambulance is not in the offing.

On one occasion last month, the ambulance for Tuam was seconded to bring a patient from UCHG to Roscommon Town. The night-time run covered a round-trip of about 200km, leaving no ambulance for the vast Tuam region for four to five hours.

“It was a non-emergency transfer. It leaves the whole area wide open when that happens,” a source, who didn't want to be named, told The Tuam Herald.

The Tuam ambulance crew often travel to calls in Claremorris and Ballyhaunis, and sometimes go as far as Castlebar. Their remit also takes in Roscommon Town and Castlerea, owing to Tuam’s geographical location…

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