THE HSE has moved to allay concerns that a new helipad, currently under construction in Rosbrien, might cause prolonged patient transfers by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) due to its location.
The new helipad will be part of a new National Ambulance Service (NAS) headquarters for the Mid West, replacing the existing regional ambulance base adjacent to UHL.
Sources expressed fears the new helipad, currently under construction at the John Carew Link Road in Rosbrien, would replace an existing helipad located at the rear of UHL, and that this would have the knock-on effect of longer patient transfer times by ambulance from the helipad to the Dooradoyle hospital.
When asked for comment, the HSE confirmed that “the helipad to be located at the Rosbrien ambulance base is not a replacement for the helipad at University Hospital Limerick”.
The HSE added that “the helipad at University Hospital Limerick will remain in operation”
Expanding on plans for the new NAS base, the HSE said that “a capital project is underway with the construction of the new Mid West Ambulance Headquarters at Rosbrien, County Limerick. This facility will provide a state-of-the-art hub to support command, training, and coordination of NAS services to enhance service delivery for the people of the region.”
While no firm plans have been put in place, it is hoped the existing ambulance base at St Nessan’s Road, Dooradoyle, directly across from the hospital, may be redeveloped as additional bed capacity to help mitigate patient overcrowding at UHL.
In a clear indication to utilise the site of the current ambulance base adjacent to the hospital, Joe Hoare, assistant national director of HSE Capital and Estates Mid-West, told a recent meeting of the Regional Health Forum that, while “the specific long-term plans for the current ambulance base site are not yet confirmed, the intention is that the site will be used to support the operations of the UHL campus across the road from the site”.
Mr Hoare said the HSE noted “concerns of local residents regarding the impact of any new build on the ambulance site”.
According to the planning file, the new 24-hour ambulance base and helipad in Rosbrien will come with 40 staff parking spaces, a new part single storey, part two storey, part three storey building, external vehicle wash bay, site boundary walls and fencing, gates and vehicle access control barriers, and external services facilities including a sub-station, generators, and heat recovery plant, together with associated roads and paths and site works for the National Ambulance Service.
