Woman waited hours for ambulance with critically ill sister who later died
Her sister has a heart issue and had collapsed, shortly after returning from hospital
The late Julia O'Brien (centre right) from Arklow with her sisters Ellen, Annie and Mary. Photo: Michael Kelly
Despite having a dedicated ambulance, prolonged wait times in Arklow have been a long-standing source of frustration for residents, many of whom have pointed to delays disembarking patients at hospitals, and the National Ambulance Service's (NAS) centralised system, which sees the nearest available ambulance dispatched within 90 seconds of the call.
Among those left in disbelief by the waiting times is Arklow resident Mary Byrne. She was hosting her sister, Julia O'Brien, who had just been released from the hospital, when, on July 13, Julia collapsed as she was being brought upstairs to go to bed.
Contacting 999 immediately, Mary received instructions to bring Julia to the bedroom and roll her on her side, before she waited on tenterhooks for an ambulance that seemed like it would never arrive.
'My sister had just come home from the hospital on the Friday, and she'd been in for an assessment for a heart problem for three days,' Mary recalled.
The late Julia O'Brien (centre right) from Arklow with her sisters Ellen, Annie and Mary. Photo: Michael Kelly
News in 90 Seconds - August 14th
'She had come up to stay with me for a few days, which was just as well, because she could've been lying on her own floor.
'We were bringing her up the stairs to bed, and all of a sudden, the two legs went from under her. I rang 999 and told them that she didn't just fall, and that she had a heart condition, and they gave me all the instructions of what to do, putting her on her side and all that.
'Somewhere along the line, we were forgotten about. I rang just before 10.50pm, and about two hours later, still no ambulance, but someone from 999 came back to me to ask if everything was okay, and said they were doing their best to get us an ambulance.
'It came at 2.15am, three and a half hours after we first called, which is just wrong – so wrong,' she continued.
'When the ambulance men came in, I asked them if they had been busy, and they said they were down in Wexford and had only recently received the call. After seeing the shape my sister was in, they also said Julia never should've been released from the hospital.
'So, she went back into the hospital on July 13 and never came out. She died on July 20.
'I don't think, even if they had come in an hour, she would've been saved. She wasn't well, but the fact that she was lying there for three and a half hours, that's the thing that my sisters and I can't get over or get our heads around.'
Moved by the messages of support she has received from the community, Mary explained how her anger drove her to tell her story, and that through highlighting the issue, she hopes changes can be made so no one else has to endure the traumatic experience.
'I was and am just so mad, I felt like I had to say something to somebody,' Mary said.
'It helps to talk, and I wanted to tell the story, because nothing will change otherwise. When it was posted online, I couldn't believe the number of people sympathising and telling their own stories about the ambulance service. Read more
'Listen, I understand how the system works. If the Arklow ambulance is up in Dublin, another one has to come up from Gorey or wherever.
'But what I can't understand is a three and a half hour wait for a woman with a heart condition who has collapsed. Something needs to be done, whether that's more treatments being available locally, in the primary care centre, or more ambulances on the road.
'We can make a load of excuses and a lot of reasons why there are delays, but it just feels like, especially for older people in Ireland today, nobody gives a damn about us.'
Responding to Mary's story, members of the Arklow community discussed the additional strain that will be placed on the service when the town's population explodes, before calling on their elected TDs to address a service already struggling to manage the seaside town's existing residents.
'We have a base here, and most of the time, people here have to wait for long periods of time. Also, another point is we have a huge new primary care centre, and people still are being sent to the hospitals for basic scans, X-rays, etc,' one commenter wrote.
'It's not good enough. This town has waited far too long.'
Another commented: 'There is an ambulance, but once it goes out on a call, we have to wait for one from another area. It's been going on for years.
'I've called ambulances and we've had one from Wexford, Wicklow, Loughlinstown and Tallaght, and this can work vice versa with our ambulance.
'In fairness to the crews, they work hard, but because everything is centralised now, they are being sent all over the place. If they get stuck at a hospital with a patient, we may wait until there is one diverted from somewhere else.'
Asked for a breakdown of the Arklow ambulance service, and how much the severity of the emergency and the Arklow ambulance being occupied (at or en route to hospital) impacts wait times, a HSE spokesperson said they cannot comment on individual cases.
Shedding some light on the overburdened service, they noted that calls for emergency service support via the 999 service have increased by over 25pc since 2019, with the NAS responding to approximately 430,000 emergency calls in 2024, and 108,915 in the first quarter of 2025.
'The HSE National Service Plan (NSP) measures effectiveness through the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs),' they added.
'NSP 2024 targets included 75pc of 999 PURPLE calls (life-threatening cardiac or respiratory arrest) should be met within 19 minutes, and 45pc of 999 RED (life-threatening illness or injury, other than cardiac or respiratory arrest) calls should be met within 19 minutes.'
After hearing about Mary and Julia's distressing incident, Wicklow-Wexford TD Brian Brennan broached the broader issues with the ambulance service, saying: 'Firstly, I commend the ambulance staff, paramedics, advanced paramedics, all first responders and those on the front line, but there is a critical issue with the system, and it must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
'The current ambulance service is not fit for purpose in Arklow and the south east. As it stands, Arklow and Gorey have only one operating ambulance each at any given time to serve a population of over 50,000 people.
'If these ambulances are out on call, cover is requested from as far away as Bray and Waterford. Our local ambulances also provide cover outside of their areas, sometimes being called away as far as Meath and Maynooth.
'I have raised this in Leinster House as I believe that this system is absolutely not fit for purpose and has the dedicated front-line staff chasing their tails and is leading to unacceptable waiting times for people in their most vulnerable time of need.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Call to add unregistered AEDs to national database
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has said there are thousands of defibrillators across the country not currently registered on its database, which could potentially delay a person accessing one of the life-saving devices in a medical emergency. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, portable device that can, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock to help a person's heart re-establish a normal rhythm. The devices are typically stored in wall-mounted cabinets that are located in public places that have a high volume of footfall. Such cabinets often require a code for the device to be accessed. The NAS maintains a national registry of AED locations that is used in real-time by emergency dispatchers to direct people to the life-saving devices. However, the NAS has said many defibrillators across the country remain unregistered or inaccessible, limiting their potential to help people during a medical emergency. Of the more than 9,000 AEDs known to be in Ireland through consultations with the suppliers of the devices, almost half of this number are not registered. This means that around 4,500 AEDs across the country may not be able to be located or accessed in an emergency. As a result, all individuals, businesses, sports clubs and community groups who own an AED are being urged to register their device with the NAS to help save more lives during cardiac emergencies. Community Engagement Officer with the NAS for the Dublin and North East area, Liam Stewart has said early CPR and the rapid use of a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death. "One of the real advantages of the defibrillator is that it dramatically improves the person's chance of survival if they have a sudden cardiac arrest in the community. "We have over 4,500 defibrillators in our database at the moment that we can direct callers to if they ring 999 or 112 and are talking to the ambulance service. "However, from speaking to suppliers, we know there is many, many more thousands of defibrillators across the country that we don't know about," he said. To encourage more uptake, the NAS introduced a registration form on its website that can be submitted with the location details for an AED. Since 2022, the service has doubled the number of defibrillators on its database from around 2,000 to over 4,500. Last year, the NAS also appointed a dedicated co-ordinator to manage the AED database for Ireland, who has undertaken a review of defibrillator submissions and how best to integrate this data into its dispatch system based on best practice from other jurisdictions. Clíodhna Ward from Co Monaghan has been a member of the Order of Malta since she was ten years old. After learning about the low number of AEDs registered on the NAS database, the 17-year-old student at Our Lady's Secondary School in Castleblayney said she had to do something about it. Her campaign, entitled "30 Seconds of Your Time Could Give Someone 30 More Years of Theirs", aims to try and increase AED registrations across Ireland. "I initially started my research back in September in my locality in Monaghan. I found out how many AEDs were registered and then compared this to how many actually were there, and the results were shocking. "As a first aider myself, I know how important an AED is and the importance of getting it to the location as quick as possible. There are so many AEDs out there, like you look at GAA clubs and how much fundraising they have done to get one. [They are located] at rugby clubs, even in libraries. Anywhere you go, there is now an AED. "But if you went say down the country on your holidays to Kerry, I'm from Monaghan and I wouldn't know where the nearest AED is in Kerry and that's the biggest problem. "If you phone 999, they should be fit to give you the nearest registered AED. But if it's not registered, it won't come up on their system, which leads people to go 10-15 minutes down the road, when, in reality, an AED could be three minutes away from you," Clíodhna said. Ms Ward went on to say that registering an AED is usually the easiest part of the process, given the time and money often required to acquire one of the life-saving devices in the first place. "My campaign is only the start of something that really urgently needs to be done to get people to register their AEDs all across the country. When you think about it, the amount of fundraising and hard work that goes into getting an AED in the community, it is just getting that final step to get people to register their AED with the National Ambulance Service," she said. Monaghan Rugby Club is one of those organisations which recently raised the money needed to have an AED installed in a cabinet on the exterior wall of the clubhouse. Stephen McCabe, who is the chair of the club's minis group for younger players, said it is also important to check in with the NAS after the device has been registered. "We had two incidents within a very short time, which highlighted the registration had not gone live with the National Ambulance Service call centre. "One here in the club where a spectator got into difficulty and the AED had to be sent for. When we contacted the emergency services, they weren't able to supply the code for the box to the person who was on the phone. "And then approximately 12 days later, there was a local incident where a person was sent for an AED as well. "Initially, they were sent to a decommissioned one. And that woman was actually aware of the advertising we put out that there was a new AED here at the club, so she came down here, but they weren't able to provide her with the code for the lockbox. "Luckily enough, there were no deaths or serious outcomes from either of those two incidents," he said. Mr McCabe went on to say that the issue was immediately resolved after the club highlighted it with the NAS. "In fairness, we got back on to the co-ordinator and she was able to get to the bottom of it with the IT section, and it has been rectified now," he added. In a statement, the NAS said: "Every registration of an AED by an owner, such as a community group, private business, or sports club, is manually reviewed by the administration team to ensure clarity and accuracy of instructions. "It does not automatically go live on the national system until a validation process has been completed. Owners are then informed that their AED is now live and are sent a sheet with advice on how to regularly check the device. "In addition, work has been undertaken, in conjunction with community first responders and voluntary aid groups, to verify the readiness of defibrillators in the community and the accuracy of our database. "Where devices are found to be 'not ready to use', they are removed from our database. Where possible, the owner is notified and given advice. These efforts are being used to inform how we can best continue to ensure defibrillators are accessible and ready to use. "If a defibrillator is no longer available, the NAS is reliant on the person who originally submitted the registration to inform us to remove the device. Typically, devices are removed from our system within 48 hours, once we are notified". The Castleblayney Community First Responders are notified by the NAS about cardiac arrests that occur in their area. Martina Murray, the co-ordinator of the group, said that familiarising yourself with where your local AED is located can also prove vital. "For every minute the defibrillator is not used, a person's chance of survival will drop. So, knowing where your local one is, if it is two minutes away, three minutes away, it will buy them time before we arrive on scene as well. "And often that is the case, where people have run to their local GAA club, their local church, or chapel where the device has been registered and that has made a big difference to some people's lives, so it is a brilliant initiative that Clíodhna has come up with. Mr Stewart from the NAS advised people to go to their website and will out an AED registration form. "Then, we know about the defibrillator, we can verify it, we can make sure that we have the details correct. And then, if there is an emergency call in the area and a defibrillator is required, we can assign those people who make the call to that defibrillator," he added.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Family of Irish woman found dead on yacht ‘stunned' by claims she was battling brain cancer
Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra's mother Elma told detectives her daughter was 'perfectly healthy' Martha Nolan-O'Slattara was found dead on a boat in East Hampton last week Claims that an Irish woman found dead on a yacht in the US had been battling brain cancer are being investigated by detectives probing her death. The body of Carlow businesswoman Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra (33) was found at Montauk Yacht Club in East Hampton on Long Island, New York, at 12am local time on Tuesday of last week. During a telephone call in the days that followed, it is understood that Ms Nolan's mother Elma was asked by detectives about claims that her daughter had brain cancer. It is not known who provided that information to the authorities. Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra's mother, who was in contact with her daughter on an almost daily basis, was stunned by the claims and told detectives her daughter was 'perfectly healthy'. 'She told them there was nothing of the sort [affecting her],' a source said. The Montauk Yacht Club in The Hamptons Detectives in the US have said a post-mortem examination 'did not show evidence of violence, and her final cause of death is pending further examination'. A 'preliminary investigation and exam', after they arrived at the scene, were inconclusive in informing a cause of death. Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra's family have been told that a final post-mortem report, including toxicological, histological and other testing, will take at least three months to complete. Her mother, sister Jacqui and several other relatives have travelled to the US to bring her body home. Martha Nolan-O'Slattara was found dead on a boat in East Hampton last week News in 90 Seconds - August 15th The family have engaged a top lawyer in the US and are seeking a 'second-opinion autopsy' as the mystery over the circumstances surrounding her death deepens. Criminal defence attorney Arthur Aidala's client list includes Harvey Weinstein and former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon. Mr Aidala has said he is in contact with the district attorney's office, and the family had met with Suffolk County homicide detectives. 'There is still a very intense investigation focused on why a young woman is dead,' he said. 'The autopsy report did show that there was no signs of a struggle, no defensive wounds on her hands, no obvious signs of trauma. 'The medical examiner is really focusing now on her blood and the other fluids that are being sent to toxicology to see what's going on. 'There were rumours that she possibly had some form of brain cancer and that is being investigated as well.' Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra was found unconscious at the Montauk Yacht Club after a man called 911 at around midnight, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra had spoken to her boyfriend in the hours before she died, telling him she was going to book an Uber and would be home at around 1am. Public records indicate that the boat, named Ripple, is owned by Christopher P Durnan, an American business man who owns a successful insurance company. Efforts by the Irish Independent to contact Mr Durnan have been unsuccessful.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Protest march highlighting death of Harvey Sherratt (9) and spinal surgery crisis to take place in Dublin
DEMONSTRATION | 'We're not going to go away,' said Ms Sherratt. Gillian Sheratt and Stephen Morrison with their son Harvey Sherratt when he was aged 3. Picture: Gerry Mooney The protest, which will also highlight scandalous persistent prolonged children's spinal surgery waiting lists, is due to start at 2pm, August 23, at the Garden of Remembrance, and finish at Customs House Quay. Harvey Sherratt's parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, who both tirelessly sought Harvey's surgery to correct scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, are to attend the demonstration which is expected to be one of the biggest ever in the capital city. 'We would appreciate if you all could join us as we march in protest for #JusticeForHarvey ❤️,' Ms Sherratt posted on X. In an interview with this reporter, Gillian Sherratt said she and her husband 'will not stop' campaigning for adequate healthcare for children, particularly for those who urgently require it. 'We're not going to go away,' said Ms Sherratt. Asked what she wanted Harvey's legacy to be, Ms Sherratt replied: 'It literally should be, for these children to get the care that they are entitled to, and that they bloody deserve.' Disability rights campaigner, Bernard Mulvany, opened a GoFundMe account to raise funds to stage the 'Justice For Harvey' demonstration on August 23rd. Gillian Sheratt and Stephen Morrison with their son Harvey Sherratt when he was aged 3. Picture: Gerry Mooney News in 90 Seconds - August 15th 'Any outstanding funds (will be) given over to Harvey's family for them to administrate. Please help us to celebrate Harvey's life and to shine a light on how he and many other children in our society are being failed,' Mr Mulvany said. Donations can be made via utm_campaign=natman_sharesheet_dash&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&attribution_id=sl:aecc7c47-22ef-4b60 ba6e-4abdcffb8a4f Gillian Sherratt called on the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, to 'recall the Dáil' from its summer recess early, to debate the ongoing crisis in children's spinal surgery. Ms Sherratt called on Mr Martin to support her and her husband's call for a public inquiry into governance of orthopaedic services at CHI. Ms Sherratt and Mr Morrison called on Tanaiste and leader of the Fine Gael party, Simon Harris, to resign over the debacle. In 2017, when he was serving as Minister for Health, Mr Harris said he was 'ashamed' of the prolonged waiting lists, and he pledged that 'no child' would wait longer than four months for scoliosis surgery. Harvey Sherratt waited seven years for his spinal surgery, including 33 months on and off an active waiting list. Despite Mr Harris's failed 2017 health pledge, as well as his predecessors, ex-Fianna Fáil TD Stephen Donnelly, and current health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, also pledging to tackle the scoliosis scandal, dozens of children continue to wait more than four months for spinal surgery. Near the end, wheelchair-bound Harvey, from Clondalkin, Dublin, could no longer sit for any long periods in his chair, as scoliosis twisted his ribcage, putting pressure on his heart and lungs. Read more In February 2024, seventeen months prior to Harvey's death, his father explained that the curvature on his son's spine had extended so much he was at increased risk of death unless he received a timely surgical intervention. Desperate to highlight his son's ordeal then, Mr Sherratt pleaded for his son's surgery and said: 'Harvey will die. He absolutely needs the surgery.' Six months later, in August 2024, Harvey's mother discovered that despite their public calls for Harvey's surgery, her deteriorating son was inexplicably no longer on CHI's active surgery waiting list. Then the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil party leader Micheál Martin, described Harvey's disappearance from the waiting list without his parents consent or knowledge was 'shocking' and 'not good enough', and he said CHI should 'apologise' to Harvey's family 'and arrange a surgery'. Harvey eventually had his spinal surgery in December 2024, eight years after his parents were first informed by a consultant surgeon that Harvey would require the operation to prevent his spine crushing his ribcage and killing him. Gillian Sherratt said that by the time Harvey actually had his surgery, his spinal curve was so extended it could not be fully corrected, nevertheless the surgery helped provide Harvey with an additional eight months of life. The boy's health suddenly deteriorated two and half weeks ago and he died on July 29th. Harvey's death refocused the spotlight on the scoliosis waiting list scandal and concerns expressed by Harvey's parents, as well as scoliosis and spina bifida advocacy groups, around governance at CHI. Gillian Sherratt said that more children, like Harvey, who have 'complex' health issues and require 'timely access' to surgery are still not receiving adequate treatment at CHI. According to latest data published by CHI, 74 children were waiting longer than four months for spinal surgery, as of the end of July. A further 57 children were waiting up to three months. One child was waiting more than four years. Out of a total of 231 children waiting for spinal surgery nationally, 131 children were on CHI's 'active' surgery waiting list, previously occupied by Harvey Sherratt before his name disappeared from the list without explanation. In response to calls to resign, the Tanaiste, Simon Harris, said he did previously make representations on Harvey Sherratt's behalf to the Department of Health and to CHI, but, he said, he had always maintained that any medical intervention would have to be clinician-led. A spokesperson for Mr Harris said the Fine Gael leader had spoken to Gillian Sherratt and they were planning on meeting soon. The Tánaiste's spokeswoman said Mr Harris had also sought, through Minister MacNeill, a full multidisciplinary report on the timeline of care provided to Harvey.
