Naas General Hospital Among Worst In Country For Ambulance Turnaround Delays

Saturday, 13 September 2025 13:26

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News. Got A Story? Email news@kfmradio.com

The HSE’s benchmark requires 80% of ambulances to be ready for another call within 20 minutes of arriving at an emergency department.

Ambulance turnaround delays at Naas General Hospital are highlighting mounting pressure on emergency services, with new figures showing the hospital among the worst performers nationally.

The HSE’s benchmark requires 80% of ambulances to be ready for another call within 20 minutes of arriving at an emergency department.

But data reveals that no hospital met this standard in the first half of the year, leaving vehicles tied up outside emergency departments and slowing responses to new emergencies.

Only 43% of ambulances at Naas General Hospital were freed up within the target time.

Comparable delays occurred at Kerry University Hospital (54%), Cork University Hospital (54%), Mayo University Hospital (54%), and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda (56%). The national average stood at 57%, slightly above 52% for June 2024.

The worst-performing hospitals were Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin (20%), and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin (37%), while South Tipperary Hospital led performance with 73%.

A HSE spokesperson said measures are underway to improve handover times, including real-time monitoring of delays, escalation procedures, and alternative care pathways to reduce unnecessary hospital transfers.

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