I want to raise the tragic death of a young man in east Cork last year and the serious issues that have emerged from the HSE's review of his care. The young man's family made an emergency call during a prolonged seizure event. The National Ambulance Service was unable to reach him until 47 minutes after that call was made. It is also a matter of public record that the HSE has acknowledged omissions in aspects of the clinical care provided. Behind that careful language is a devastated family, a precious life lost and serious questions about emergency response capacity and accountability. The HSE has said that local ambulance service provision is funded to 95% capacity. However, the family involved have told me they have been informed that service cover in east Cork remains compromised due to funding constraints. The measure of the response to this tragedy will be whether anything changes. The family have requested to meet the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the CEO of the HSE, Ms Anne O'Connor. They need reassurances that emergency response capacity is being addressed as a matter of urgency. Can those assurances be provided to them?

Sentiment score: -0.13