A GP in Conamara has raised serious concerns regarding ambulance services and has said it is time the National Director of the Ambulance Service and managers in the HSE were held to account for patient deaths.

In a letter sent by GP Peter A Sloane from An Cheathrú Rua to Minister of Health Simon Harris and to public representatives in his area, Dr Sloane outlines a recent case in which a patient died having waited over an hour for ambulance services.

The letter, which was obtained by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, questions where management accountability lies.

Dr Sloane states that he is "held to account for every clinical decision" he makes by the Medical Council.

He claims that Galway, city and county, is not adequately staffed with either ambulance personnel or gardaí.

GPs in Conamara are now acting as surrogate for these services, according to Dr Sloane.