Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms McGuinness and her colleagues from the National Ambulance Service.

I seek a brief clarification. When she shared with us the details on the performance levels within the set response times, she spoke of ECHO and DELTA calls in relation to a response time of 18 minutes and 59 seconds. Perhaps there is a small contradiction here with one of the earlier presentations which spoke of ECHO and DELTA calls classed as "serious life threatening" and where the ambulance service is tasked with achieving a response time in 85% of these calls within seven minutes 59 seconds? Could she explain clearly the difference between the seven minutes 59 seconds and the 18 minutes 59 seconds and the designations of ECHO and DELTA? Both refer to serious life threatening matters. Even Ms McGuinness, in her presentation, spoke of "life threatening emergencies" in two preceding paragraphs.

In a recent meeting at which Ms McGuinness herself may have been present, as a result of a personal experience - not my own but another experience known to me - where an ambulance was called out and could not locate the address, there were a number of contributing factors and there was no fault due to the ambulance personnel. It was a cardiac situation and the patient did not survive. However, I raised the issue of Sat Nav or some other such guidance system within the ambulance fleet and I was told that such would not be considered in advance of the introduction of the new postal codes. This was a response given here by colleagues of Ms McGuinness, if not herself - I cannot be certain as to whose contribution it was at the time. Dr. O'Donnell or Mr. Dunne also might like to comment on this.

I have had the matter raised with me by ambulance personnel who picked up on a report of the matter. All of them, of whom there have been a few, reflected that, in their opinion as ambulance personnel being called out in these situations, it would be an additional aid to getting to the call-out point quickly. I am concerned at the period of time we may have to wait for the introduction of these postal codes. Whatever is the cost, and I do not know what it might be, where lives are at stake serious consideration should be given to it. I would ask Ms McGuinness to further comment on that.

Looking back on my own notes, in November last Dr. Geoff King, the director of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, came before this committee. In the course of Dr. King's contribution, according to my notes, he stated that there was a need for more ambulances within the National Ambulance Service. I would like to know whether Dr. O'Donnell agrees with Dr. King's assessment and if he quantify that in any way. I would ask for a response from Ms McGuinness as well. I reflected to SIPTU, immediately before the Chairman went to NASRA earlier, that my sense of it is we can do all the moving about we like in trying to create greater efficiencies, but, ultimately, if one comes to the bottom line repeatedly, no matter how often one moves the pieces around on the table, it is a no brainer. We need further resourcing of the National Ambulance Service. It is not only based on comparisons with the neighbouring jurisdiction north of the Border, although these are quite stark, or Scotland with a comparable population base. Ambulance crews and personnel across the country, not only in my north-east area, are time and time again reflecting on the enormous strain that they bear, particularly given the inadequate cover available in terms of ambulances and personnel. I did not get a full explanation from the SIPTU team, but I understand that there is a ceiling on the number of personnel within the National Ambulance Service of 1,670. Could they explain why that ceiling applies and how flexible it might be? Surely, if more ambulance personnel are needed - I am quite convinced they are - that ceiling needs to be lifted. I will leave it at that.

I apologise to our guests. I am not able to wait for their responses, but my colleague, Deputy McLellan, will advise me of same.