Ambulance clamped at Dublin Airport

The Dublin Airport Authority has said it will review its arrangements with ambulance services after an ambulance was clamped at the airport last Saturday.

The "Lifeline" ambulance which was parked in an ambulance parking bay at the arrivals level awaiting a passenger for delivery to a Dublin hospital, is contracted to the health boards, the five main Dublin hospitals and insurance companies.

The patient, whose condition was described by the ambulance company as "serious" was waiting inside the arrivals hall door in a wheelchair and observed the clampers dealing with the ambulance crew, according to the company.

Lifeline ambulances which are clearly marked have been using the ambulance parking bays at the airport for about six years, transporting patients and emergency transplant organs without being clamped.

The incident is believed to be the first time an ambulance has been clamped in the Republic.

The Dublin Airport Authority described the incident as "unfortunate" but said an error had not been made.

According to a spokeswoman, Ms Siobhán Moore, the ambulance space was reserved for "life and death emergencies only" as opposed to ambulances which meet aircraft by appointment.

Ms Moore added that the correct procedure for the ambulance would have been to drive to the short term car-park and wait there until the patient was ready.

"One ambulance person could then ring the other and say bring round the ambulance to pick up the patient. I believe the ambulance was parked there for more than half an hour". Ms Moore added, however, that the airport was prepared to review its procedures to ensure the incident would not happen again and she added that the clamping fee of €63 would be refunded.

However, the managing director of Lifeline Ambulances Mr David Hall told The Irish Times he was "extremely concerned" about the incident.

"We are contracted to the Mater, St James's, Tallaght, Blanchardstown and Beaumont hospitals.

While we have collected 'executive' patients, that accounts for just 1 per cent of our business.

"Most of our work is contract work with the health boards and insurance companies - such as where a patient has to be flown home from abroad under an arrangement with the VHI," he said.

Mr Hall said he was concerned to preserve the dignity and privacy of the patient involved by not identifying him, but insisted the crew had not been waiting long.

"The patient was waiting inside the door. The crew did not believe they would be clamped if they just went and got him, but even though the patient was offering to walk to speed things up, it was too late and the vehicle was clamped," he said.

Mr Hall said the company was further angered that the offer of a company credit card number to pay the clamping fee was refused.

"We hoped that, like the city council we could phone and use a credit card to pay, but it was refused.

"They wanted to actually see the card. If the crew did not have the €63, we would have had to send someone out with the card."