The disclosure by the HSE that only one additional advanced paramedic has been appointed to the ambulance service following the closure of the A&E department at Roscommon County Hospital has been described as totally unacceptable by Denis Naughten TD.

“At the time of the closure of Roscommon County Hospital both the HSE and Department of Health gave clear commitments to provide a first class ambulance service with a rapid response vehicle with fully trained paramedics who could treat people at the scene of an accident.

“We now find that this is not the case as the rapid response vehicle is only manned by an advanced paramedic on occasions, depending on availability.

“The current situation runs contrary to the statements given by Health Minister James Reilly, whose survival rates for road accidents were based on having advanced paramedics at the scene of an accident as soon as possible.

“The fact remains that the people of Roscommon want their 24/7 emergency services at Roscommon Hospital reinstated but that does not mean that the HSE can get away with putting in half an ambulance service instead of the one that was promised,” concluded Denis Naughten.