Local Labour Dublin North East Labour Deputy Tommy Broughan has slammed the Taoiseach and his Minister for Health Mary Harney in Dail Eireann over shocking delays of nearly three hours on Tuesday June 16th last for an ambulance to carry very ill individuals to Beaumont Hospital.

A constituent of Deputy Broughan’s contacted him last week regarding a neighbour who was to wait nearly three hours for an ambulance to get to Beaumont Hospital because of a serious medical issue. "The neighbour concerned was extremely distressed when he called me at this unbelievable and unacceptable waiting time for an ambulance", said Deputy Broughan. "People only call an ambulance because of a crisis medical situation and to have to wait for nearly three hours for an ambulance beggars belief."

A fire tender and another vehicle had earlier called to the sick neighbour’s home but couldn’t transport her to hospital. Fortunately as the neighbouring constituent was actually on the phone to Deputy Broughan an ambulance finally arrived. It was reported that due to severe delays at Beaumont A&E that patients were actually being held in ambulances outside the entrance to the hospital’s A&E.

Deputy Broughan continued, "I contacted the CEO of Beaumont Hospital Mr. Liam Duffy to ask him to explain why there are such long wait times for an ambulance. Mr. Duffy expressed his deep regret at the distress caused to my constituent but explained that Beaumont’s A&E on June 16th last was under "extreme pressure with 52 patients awaiting admissions and every effort was made throughout the day to free up as many beds as possible." It is clear that Beaumont was under such severe pressure that it was no longer accepting patients. Indeed, Mr. Duffy noted that on the same day the Mater Hospital "requested to go off-call in an effort to try and alleviate the pressures on the numbers waiting in their department."

Deputy Broughan raised this matter with Taosieach Cowen yesterday morning in Dail Eireann and asked him and Minister Harney to urgently address the escalating crisis that is clearly affecting Beaumont and the Mater. "If the Taoiseach and Minister Harney don’t act now to address the near collapse of Beaumont and the Mater A&Es, lives could be in very serious danger across Dublin’s Northside. Taosieach Cowen and Minister Harney must urgently end their shameful programme of health cutbacks", concluded Deputy Broughan.