Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the withdrawal of public 24 advanced life support cover from 19 March 2012 in Limerick; if his further attention has been drawn to the potential loss of life posed; if there is an alternative to replace this valuable local service which is without question vital to local paramedics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14773/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides pre-hospital emergency care and emergency and some non-emergency patient transport.

Supported by my Department and by HIQA, the NAS is working to improve the management and integration of its services. This includes a reduction to two ambulance control centres nationally, with appropriate technology, a clinical lead for pre-hospital care, development and implementation of new performance indicators for pre-hospital care and development of standard national criteria in relation to non-emergency patient transport. In addition, a number of new service types are being introduced, such as the use of rapid response vehicles where required and intermediate care services, for dedicated stretcher-based transport without the requirement for the use of emergency resources

The NAS has undergone significant change in order to ensure quality, safety and value for money. In line with other clinical areas, this process is ongoing as clinical needs and standards develop. I believe that these developments are in the best interests of patients, and that they are a key part of the Government's work to ensure high quality emergency care.

NAS deploys resources on a dynamic basis to meet surges in demand and ensure spatial application of emergency cover. Resources in any given area can be supplemented by re-deploying available capacity from surrounding areas.

I am informed by the HSE NAS that the Limerick Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) was put in place for a trial period of 25 weeks. The trial ends next week, and advanced life support delivery will continue on transfer from the single paramedic response in the RRV to delivery through the ambulance network. Advanced paramedics will continue to be deployed in emergency ambulances under the agreed National Ambulance Service National Framework Agreement Practitioner Deployment, which has been agreed with management and unions.