Press release
Monday 2nd December 2013
The HSE has failed to provide a commitment that funding will be made available next year to adequately staff the ambulance base in Loughglynn or those in Tuam and Mulranny, which will have a direct impact on the delivery of emergency services locally according to Denis Naughten TD.
A formal submission was made to the HSE Chief Executive, Mr. Tony O’Brien, by Denis Naughten seeking that staffing be provided so that “all three bases become fully operational, especially in light of the disclosure by the National Ambulance Service that in counties Roscommon, Mayo and Galway just one in every two ambulances arrive within the 19 minute HIQA target”.
“Without adequate staffing for ambulance stations in Mulranny, Co. Mayo; Tuam, Co. Galway and Loughglynn, Co. Roscommon, they cannot be opened on a 24 hour, seven day a week basis, which will put huge pressure on the ambulance bases in Roscommon, Ballinasloe, Castlebar and Galway,” outlined Denis Naughten.
“What is really frustrating is the fact that the three locations were identified as ambulance coverage blackspots in the 1990s but the bases have still yet to become operational. We have already seen a €1.5m investment in the provision of the new ambulance base in Tuam, yet the piecemeal staffing of that facility is performed by the relocation of ambulances based in Ballinasloe and Galway City.
“Further funding has been provided for the development of the facilities in Mulranny and Loughglynn but without ambulances and staff all we are doing is spreading an already stretched ambulance service to breaking point. I now fear that lives will be lost because of this decision.
“These delays in responding to life-threatening 999 calls and further delays in getting to hospital, put patients at a far higher risk of dying or having serious long term complications as well as of delayed discharges from hospital putting further pressure on acute hospital budgets,” concluded Denis Naughten.