The National Haemophilia Council (NHC) are pleased to announce, through the work of the NHC, the National Ambulance Service (NAS), the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Irish Haemophilia Society (IHS), that in an emergency situation, people with haemophilia, who need an ambulance and who are within a 60 minute transport time of a designated Haemophilia Treatment Centre (St. James’s Hospital, Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Galway), will be brought directly to the Emergency Department of that Centre, bypassing other hospitals.

If a person needs an ambulance to go to an Emergency Department, we would urge you to show the paramedic your ‘Severe Bleeding Disorder Alert Card’. This is extremely important. People with haemophilia need to be treated with factor concentrates without delay. The National Ambulance Service have agreed that a pre-alert will be sent to the receiving treatment centre. By contacting the Specialist Centre in advance, it should ensure that the appropriate treatment is administered without delay and may save lives.

Dated: 17th April 2016