Tragic death of Mayo man highlights severe crisis in ambulance service
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald today told the Taoiseach that the tragic death of a Mayo man highlights in a most harrowing way the severe crisis in our ambulance service.
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald today told the Taoiseach that the tragic death of a Mayo man highlights in a most harrowing way the severe crisis in our ambulance service.
Speaking during Leaders’ Question, Deputy McDonald raised the case of 68-year old Erris man Stephen Lavelle, who died earlier this month after multiple failed attempts to call an ambulance, with his family forced to carry him to a car to make the 56-mile journey to Mayo University Hospital.
Addressing Micheál Martin, Ms McDonald said: “The ambulance service is stretched to breaking point and you’ve known all of this for years. Yet recruitment of paramedics hasn’t even scratched the surface of what’s needed.
“The government has stood by and allowed all of this to happen. And its ordinary people - in their most desperate, most vulnerable moments - who pay the price.
“What will you do to make sure nobody goes through what Stephen Lavelle and his family went through on that awful night?”
She recounted the ordeal that Stephen and his family went through that night.
On the night of Saturday January 10, Stephen became gravely ill shortly after arriving at the pub in Binghamstown. An ambulance was called at 10.25pm but despite several follow-up calls, no ambulance arrived.
A doctor was called.
By the time they arrived, Stephen’s family were growing more and more distressed.
The doctor told Stephen’s son, Anthony: “This is a category one emergency. You need to get him to hospital right now.” But still no sign of the ambulance.
In desperation, the family carried Stephen to a car to drive the 56-mile journey to Mayo University Hospital. His wife, Martina, his son, Anthony and his daughter-in-law, Rebecca, all accompanied him.
As they drove, Stephen’s condition deteriorated. He was screaming in pain. They kept getting disconnected from the ambulance service because of bad mobile phone coverage.
Stephen’s head began to droop. His eyes were wide in his head. Rebecca started CPR in the car.
They finally did meet the ambulance but that was when they were only three minutes from the hospital.
When they arrived, no one was waiting for them at the hospital.
Anthony ran in and got help. It was now well after midnight.
Stephen’s pulse came back after eight minutes of CPR. He was ventilated and he was brought to the ICU.
Sadly, Stephen passed away the following morning.
“My heart goes out to Stephen’s heartbroken wife and family.
Taoiseach, there are no words to adequately describe the horror faced by Stephen and his family.
It highlights in a most harrowing way the severe crisis in our ambulance service.
There are stories from all across the country of ambulances taking far too long to arrive. But it is especially dangerous in rural areas where hospitals can be an hour or even more away,” said Deputy McDonald.
