Locations being assessed for North West air medical service covering Leitrim

Site selection is currently underway for a new Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) to serve the North West, including Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal.

The HEMS service, which operates in Cork and Athlone, delivers advanced pre-hospital care and inter-hospital retrievals provided by highly trained paramedics.

The proposed North West service is intended to complement existing Air Corps and Coast Guard capabilities, ensuring faster, more specialised critical care for patients in rural areas.

At the HSE forum, Sligo councillor Edel McSharry raised several questions regarding the service model, location, and operational capacity for the HEMS in the North West, including whether the selected base will ensure equitable access and achieve response times that fully include rural communities in Donegal and other parts of Sligo.

In response, B. McGovern, General Manager of the National Ambulance Service West and North West, confirmed that the current HEMS model in Ireland is Advanced Paramedic (Specialist HEMS)-led, with ongoing reviews assessing whether any updates to the crewing model are required.

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Site selection remains in progress, with multiple locations in the West and North West, including Sligo Airport, under consideration. Key criteria include operational requirements, population coverage, hospital connectivity, terrain, weather, logistical suitability, and existing infrastructure.

International evidence is being examined, with target response windows of 24 to 40 minutes.

Access to rural and coastal communities, such as those in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, is a central consideration in the planning process.

"It is encouraging to see the North West HEMS plans moving forward, with clear attention to response times, rural coverage, and international best practice. I strongly hope that Sligo Airport will be prioritised in the site considerations, as it has the existing infrastructure and 24-hour watch tower operations that could significantly enhance access for patients across our rural communities,” said Cllr McSharry.

“This service, combined with the existing Coast Guard A189 Search & Rescue capabilities at Sligo Airport, has the potential to transform pre-hospital care in the North-West, ensuring even better outcomes for patients from Donegal to Leitrim,” she added.

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The North-West HEMS represents a significant investment in emergency medical services in Ireland, with the potential to save lives by bringing advanced care closer to patients in rural and remote areas.