HSE to explain delay in ambulance arrival at scene of crash on N18

The Health Service Executive has said it would be this week before it could explain why it took 40 minutes for an ambulance to respond to a crash on one of the country’s busiest routes.

On Friday, a young driver had a miraculous escape after he lost control of his car and crashed at a bus stop near the Clare-Limerick border just 10km from the region's largest ambulance base.

The single-vehicle crash happened just after 1pm on the main N18 Ennis to Limerick road at Cratloe. While there was no one at the bus stop at the time, the car came to a stop on its side inches from the pick-up point.

It is known that the first call to the 999 Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) was made by a witness to the crash at 1.07pm.

Gardaí were first to arrive at the scene, followed by three units of the fire brigade from Limerick City and three more from Shannon town.

Fire crews found the man sitting at the back of another man’s vehicle and treated him immediately for suspected neck and back injuries.

Fire service personnel placed a collar on the man’s neck and moved him on to a spinal board as a precaution, however, he remained in the back of the vehicle until an ambulance finally arrived at 1.47pm.

Ambulance paramedics took the man into their care and transported him to University Hospital Limerick for treatment. It is understood the man was discharged following treatment for cuts and bruises.

On Friday, the HSE said it was too early to comment on why it took 40 minutes for an ambulance to arrive at the scene.

The N18 had to be closed for 90 minutes southbound until the ambulance arrived and the scene could be cleared.

The HSE said: “We don’t comment on individual cases and we can’t comment on information that is not yet within the system.”

In relation to response times, for which the HSE has faced considerable criticism in recent months, a spokeswoman said: “Emergency ambulances from all stations across the midwest are used in a dynamic manner to maintain emergency cover and respond to emergency calls, as required.”