New Video Guides West Cork Island Residents Through 999 Emergency Calls

A new instructional video has been launched to help West Cork island residents understand what to expect when calling 999 or 112 in a medical emergency, and how the National Ambulance Service coordinates responses in remote and maritime settings.

The video, titled Making a 999 Medical Emergency Call from an Island, was launched on Cape Clear on Monday, 2 March 2026, coinciding with the final day of Emergency First Responder (EFR) training on the island. Representatives from the National Ambulance Service (NAS), the RNLI, and the West Cork Islands Health Forum were present for the event.

The video outlines how the NAS manages emergency responses in remote or maritime areas and highlights the unique challenges involved in reaching island communities, where a calm phone call and clear information can make all the difference when help may be arriving by sea or air.

The West Cork Islands Health Forum (WCIHF) was established in 2022 to improve healthcare access for residents of the West Cork islands and nearby rural communities. It brings together the HSE, the NAS, Cork County Council, and local island representatives, with its work guided by the Primary Care Islands Services Review Report published in 2017.

Eleanor Moore, Principal Community Worker in HSE South West, said:

"As Chairperson of the West Cork Islands Health Forum I am delighted to have launched this video for the islands, alongside my colleagues in the National Ambulance Service. This information video is part of a suite of initiatives to support our island's population if we are faced with an emergency. The WCIHF has worked in partnership with the island's population over the last number of years to ensure that all have equitable access to our health services."

The launch reflects the ongoing collaboration between emergency services and island communities to ensure that those living in some of Cork's most remote locations are prepared and informed when emergencies arise.