BY MARK MCKELVEY

SERIOUS ambulance deficiencies in the Omagh district were again debated at the recent meeting of Omagh Council.

Following a recent meeting with representatives from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, councillors spoke of their dismay at the current provisions and called for a full review of these services as a priority.

Raising this topic for discussion in the chamber, SDLP Cllr Dr Jo Deehan said, "It is clear in a rural area such as West Tyrone, with so many acute services having been removed, we rely on the adequate function of the ambulance service.

"It is critical that we as a council lobby the new Minister for Health to increase ambulance resources in this area."

Cllr Deehan continued to call for a full review of the "blue light policy" which she states currently means patients that can easily be treated in the Tyrone County are by-passing the hospital to travel to the Erne.

She described this situation as "ridiculous" as an ambulance could be tied up for an hour and a half dealing with these minor injuries.

Cllr Deehan said, "These minor injuries could easily be treated at the Tyrone County Hospital. There needs to be effective utilisation and provision of ambulance services."

Adding to these comments UUP Cllr Alan Rainey highlighted a specific case in the Eskra area that a patient was left waiting for hours before an ambulance arrived.

"There was a recent case involving a resident in Eskra, when it took much longer than deemed necessary to get an ambulance from Omagh to Eskra as it took a number of hours," said Cllr Rainey.

"Then I found it peculiar that at 3am two paramedics travelling in an ambulance from Belfast transferred this patient from Omagh to the Erne.

"I fail to understand where we are going in terms of ambulance provisions. It is an extremely unbelievable situation and we need to be told why this happened."

Omagh Town DUP Cllr Clive McFarland added to the discussion by highlighting another recent case when an ambulance broke down only 50 yards after making its pick-up in Omagh.

"I have grave concerns about the overall service," declared Cllr McFarland. "The ambulance in this case arrived at a house where unfortunately a death had already occurred, but in leaving the house they only managed to travel 50 yards before breaking down.

"This could have been a life and death situation. Another ambulance had to be called to transport that unfortunate person to hospital, causing undue distress to the family.

"The resources given are not fit for purpose to provide adequate provision to the people in this area."