This article is from page 15 of the 2012-01-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
KILKEE has been identified as the most dangerous place in Ireland to have a stroke or heart attack with a new report showing the average travel time between the West Clare village and the nearest 24-hour hospital now 69 minutes.
The research, which was completed by Professor Rob Kitchin of NUI Maynooth, also show that Lisdoonvarna is was the third most dangerous town with a 59-minute average travel time to the nearest 24-hour hospital.
Head of the Kilkee Rescue Service, Manuel DiLucia, said that the lack of quick access hospitals is costing lives in West and North Clare. Mr DiLucia himself suffered a heart attack in 2009, at which time it took him 75 minutes to reach the regional hospital in Limerick.
“It is just not good enough for a local community to be so far away from essential services. We have ongoing situation here in Kilkee and when we call the ambulance it takes such a long time to get to hospital. The hospital people are the best people in the world – they can’t help the fact that it going to take more than an hour to get someone to Limerick,” he said.
“The one saving grace is that many of the situations that we deal with concern an incident at sea. And in that situation we can call the Shannon-based rescue helicopter and 70 or 80 per cent of the time they will be able to come and help. In that case they are in Limerick in half an hour.
“But that is no comfort for someone who has a heart attack or a stroke. In my opinion anyone who feels a heart-attack or a stroke coming on should make their way down to the beach and in that way they can call the helicopter and be in Limerick in a reasonable amount of time.
“I think that is a workable solution and the next time I get a heart attack I will be getting into my car and making my way to the beach. That is for sure.”
According to Professor Kitchin, his research will probably be used to indicate where cuts can be made instead of identifying gaps in services.
“It’s probably more likely to be used for where you rationalise rather than where you look to invest or develop,” he said.