Cork air ambulance  forced to reduce service to stay in operation

THE air ambulance run by Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR) has been forced to reduce its service to five days per week in order to stay in operation.

This will ensure the Cork-based service can continue for another six weeks.

“It is absolutely not ideal to have reduced lifesaving cover for the people of Ireland for two days per week, however, it ensures six weeks more service,” said Ruth Bruton, operations manager.

“The €400,000 needed to keep us flying has not been raised to date, and with the general election looming, this service may be lost with all focus and attention on the election race,” Ms Bruton said.

The ICRR air ambulance is run in partnership between the charity and the HSE National Ambulance Service, who provide the medical crew.

The helicopter, pilots, air-base, insurance, and fuel are 100% funded through donations to the charity.

In some good news, the service recently received a big donation from a Tipperary jockey. Thurles jockey David Mullins, who won the Aintree Grand National in 2016, has thanked the service for airlifting him after a serious fall in Thurles Racecourse last October.

Mr Mullins donated €12,000 as a thank you to Air Ambulance.

• Donations can be made to the service through their website, www.icrr.ie.