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THE HEALTH SERVICE needs to treble the amount of ambulances it has as part of ‘urgent action’ to address the shortfall in resources.
The call from Deputy Denis Naughten comes as new data shows that ambulance response times are not always meeting targets.
The Irish Times reported today on poor response times, which Naughten said show the continued need for “urgent action” on the issue.
Response times
The data shows that in the southeast region of Ireland last December, for example, 45 per cent of 999 calls made in relation to people who were in cardiac or respiratory arrest were responded to within 19 minutes.
The target is 70 per cent of calls to make it within that timeframe. The figure for the west was 52 per cent and 53 per cent in the northeast.
Naughten said that action is needed in light of the disclosure that when compared with Northern Ireland, we only have one third of the ambulances required to provide a proper service.
In order to provide a similar level of cover to that provided in Northern Ireland, our ambulance service needs to treble in number of ambulances available to meet the needs of the population.
He added: “It must however be remembered that the distances to A&E departments involved in the Republic are far greater than north of the border.”
For example, following the closure of Roscommon A&E, the distances involved, if replicated in Dublin City Centre, would mean that someone suffering a stroke in O’Connell Street, could have to rely on the ambulance coming from Cavan Town to bring them to the A&E Department at St Lukes Hospital, Kilkenny.
He said that there are three “official” ambulance black spots according to the HSE in the country: Tuam, Mulranny and West Roscommon.
Naughten claimed that while they are to get an ambulance base, they “have received no new ambulances or crews”. This, he said, means “the existing inadequate service within the region is being spread far more thinly on the ground”.
Earlier this month, the National Ambulance Service said it is reviewing the circumstances of an incident in Dublin where a patient was left for 40 minutes before a paramedic arrived on scene.
The man had suffered a cardiac arrest.
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23 years of age. Hope it works out for him. Met a 15 year old on the streets of Dublin last Sunday evening. I sat and chatted. He seemed to enjoy the company. On the street through no fault of his own either, lovely kid and clearly a fighter
Nobody should be on the streets, but at 15 God help him to be in such a vulnerable position. Fair play for not just walking past.
I’m unemployed and can work hard. Currently undergoing the day/week/year from hell … Any chances?
FairPlay very fond of,
Why all the red , no harm in trying anyway possible.
Thank you Patrick – guess all the red thumbers don’t have any vacancies/opportunities
Might not suit but I worked in a call centre before and they’re always hiring especially in sales positions because people get sick of it quick. Target based and can be stressful but Base salary and commission usually.. I worked in a Cork office but I know there’s plenty around the country.. They’ll hire based on motivation and interview alone and where I worked at least no qualification needed. I didn’t mind the work at all but not for everyone!
Ignore all the red thumbs Very Fond Of. They’re just internet trolls wishing nothing better to do. Hope you find something soon. I was made redundant after 12 years and found it hard to find work but after 10 months I finally got something. Wasn’t my ideal job and barely paid me for travelling to and from but after 6 months I applied to another job I really wanted and wishing 2 days had a response for an interview and landed that job. Been in it now almost 10 months and still love it. What I’m saying is take what you can then look if not happy because it’s much easier to get a job when already in one.
The “hell” that I mention above is only partly due to job/money issues. Other traumas this year also. Anyways – thanks for the contributions A B and Andrew .
@very fond of. what skills do you have? it would be useful to know what industry suits.
You should check to see if he is one of those missing kids and contact right people. Goodfor that young man in uUK hope all goes right for him now.
P.s good on that young lad for tweeting it. :)
Hunger is a great source, in the sense he got on with what he had to do with the tools he had available and it worked. I would employ someone with that much enthusiasm and commitment. Hope it works out for you and your new employer.
I heard our government piss on about all the plans they have in place to tackle the crisis on this issue. Once again all looks good on paper.
Gavin Redmond you are right all plans and no jobs.there are plenty of jobs if you are mad enough to accept twenty euros on top of your social welfare.then you have to consider bus fares meals irregular hours.They allow you to work twenty hours a week..but employers are jumping on the wagon and your twenty hours are worked out over five days.This means you are cut off the social welfare.In other words you are working for npothing what ever happened to enda kennys five point plan .AS YOU SAY ALL PAPER AND NO DEACENT JOBS
Homeless kids being sent to school, homeless teenagers sent to college, homeless women finding husbands, homeless men getting jobs, cash offers from all over.
Think I’ll give up my grotty bedsit and head out on the streets.
Better prospects all round.
No milk for the coffee, then. doesn’t it just suck?
Coffee is coffee.
And tobacco is tobacco.
You’re some tool Jack
My grandad was right, hunger is the best sauce!
you know that’s not actually about motivation right?
have your say