Concerns after elderly Leitrim man endures two hour wait for ambulance

An incident involving a Ballinamore man who waited two hours for an ambulance has raised concerns among locals, according to Cllr Gary Prior, with calls for urgent improvements in response times.

On October 19, a 73-year-old man endured a worrying two hour wait for an ambulance after becoming unwell at his home.

The man’s daughter made contact with Cllr Prior as the ambulance had been called for.

“The prolonged delay left the elderly man distressed over the course of the two hours,” Cllr Prior said.

Power restored to most in Leitrim as Storm Ashley cleanup continues

Storm Ashley disrupts power for 1,600 in Leitrim, crews work to restore remaining outages

They had been informed that an ambulance was on its way from Boyle, 45 kilometres away from Ballinamore. However, an ambulance finally arrived after two hours from Manorhamilton, a further 11 kilometres away.

“The elderly man’s helpless wait highlights a growing issue for elderly and vulnerable residents in isolated communities, where access to urgent care can be critically delayed.

This incident has raised concerns among locals, who are calling for immediate improvements in the provision of healthcare response times in the region,” Cllr Prior added.

Following this incident, Cllr Prior intends to call on the HSE to investigate the possibility of establishing an ambulance base from the Ballinamore Nursing Unit and Primary Care Centre in Ballinamore Town, to enable a “timely and potentially life-saving care can be provided when it matters most to the people of South Leitrim.”

READ MORE: Leitrim transplant recipient leads heartfelt donor memorial