Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 8 October 2025

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

National Ambulance Service: Discussion

2:00 am

Professor Cathal O'Donnell:

We went through a procurement process to replace what we call our advanced monitor defibrillator solution right across the fleet. ZOLL Medical won that process. Our existing solution at the time was from a different manufacturer, so we had to go through a really complex process where we had to switch out all of those devices and train more than 2,000 staff on the new device. That went on over a period of approximately 14 or 15 months. These are complex devices and, sometimes, there are difficulties with them, but we are now well past that. We are comfortable and happy that they are safe. We do not use the G5 defibrillator device the Deputy mentioned. That is what is called an automated external defibrillator, which is used in public places.