Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to update the House on the proposed changes to Dublin ambulance services. Historically, the Dublin emergency ambulance service has been provided by Dublin Fire Brigade, DFB. The National Ambulance Service, NAS, supports the DFB as required. However, HIQA published a report last December which identified serious patient safety concerns with regard to the lack of co-ordination between the NAS and the DFB. The urgent need to address these issues was stressed, particularly for 999 call-taking and ambulance dispatch, as well as overall clinical governance.

Following discussions, the HSE and Dublin City Council have agreed in principle to address the identified weaknesses through the provision of a single point of contact for all emergency calls in Dublin. Under the agreement reached, all 999 and 112 ambulance calls for the Dublin region will be routed through the national emergency operations centre in Tallaght, and all ambulances, regardless of whether they are DFB or NAS, will be dispatched from Tallaght. In addition, clinical governance of Dublin ambulance services will become the responsibility of the NAS medical director.

The new arrangements will mean that people in Dublin will get a better ambulance service that will be safer. Currently, where the DFB does not have an ambulance available, it may or may not pass the call to the NAS. Passing calls between call centres is not without risks. Calls can be delayed or, worse, missed. The people of Dublin can also look forward to a more responsive service, as all ambulances will be dispatched from Tallaght. The dispatcher will be able to see every available ambulance in the region. The nearest available ambulance, regardless of whether it is NAS or DFB, will be sent to the incident. The clinical governance changes will mean that patients will receive exactly the same level of care no matter which ambulance arrives.

I am aware that concerns have been expressed in the media about a takeover by the NAS of Dublin ambulance services. I can assure the House that claims of a takeover are wide of the mark. The proposed changes will not impact on the delivery of services. The DFB will continue to provide ambulance services in Dublin. Only the structures around clinical governance of the service and call management will change.

The DFB has provided very well for the emergency needs of Dublin since 1898, as the Deputy outlined. However, no health service can afford to stand still. A single contact and dispatch point for emergency ambulance calls is needed to address the safety issues raised by HIQA. I am delighted, therefore, to note that agreement in principle has now been reached with the unions on the integration of emergency ambulance call taking and dispatch. It has also been agreed that the DFB will continue to be fully involved in emergency ambulance service delivery and there will be no diminution in such services. I understand that a joint forum within Dublin City Council, which will include management and union representatives, is to be established to address issues regarding the control centre reconfiguration. That is a very welcome development and will ensure that the people of Dublin get the ambulance service they deserve.

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