A family drove their dying father 90km to a hospital as he screamed in pain because no ambulance was available, the Dáil has been told. "An ambulance was called at 10.25pm, but despite several follow up calls, no ambulance arrived, a doctor was called, and by the time they arrived, Stephen's family were growing more and more distressed. The doctor told Stephen's son, Anthony, 'this is a category one emergency, you need to get him to hospital right now', but still no sign of the ambulance. "In desperation, the family carried Stephen to a car to drive the 90km journey to Mayo University Hospital. The ambulance service is stretched to breaking point, and you have known all of this literally for years.

Source: Irish Examiner January 20, 2026 17:52 UTC