Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As somebody who is as anxious as Deputy Cowen in respect of the retention of the ambulance service in Edenderry, I thank him for raising this important matter. It is a good opportunity to brief the House on this matter. Since 2006, the National Ambulance Service, NAS, has operated a service from Ofalia House, a HSE care facility in the Edenderry area. This service was most welcome when it was established ten years ago. However, the HIQA review pointed to the need for some internal reconfiguration works in Ofalia House to ensure compliance with best practice. A fund of around €2 million was provided by the previous Government to carry out those refurbishment works. Works commenced in April 2016 but because of health and safety requirements, the NAS had no option but to vacate the premises. As one who visited it and saw where the service was trying to operate out of when there was a building site around it, I could understand the decision to put the safety and health of the people who work in the ambulance service to the forefront.

While the original intention had been for the NAS to return to Ofalia House on completion of the building works, as we now know, a major part of the facility previously used by the NAS is no longer available due to the requirement for hospice beds within Ofalia House. It, therefore, became necessary to relocate the ambulance service to Tullamore. I acknowledge the excellent service provided by the people based in Edenderry and the fact they co-operated and were so willing to understand what was going on and, at the same time, were anxious to get back to base. As the Deputy is aware, it is proposed to build a new ambulance station in Edenderry. A site has been identified and planning approval has been received. I understand that pending the development of the new station, the NAS, in conjunction with HSE Estates, is actively seeking temporary accommodation for the service in the Edenderry area so that it can resume from Edenderry as soon as possible while clarifying that it is still providing a service while it is based in Tullamore.

Of course, we are all aware that the NAS has undergone a very significant process of modernisation in recent years and a number of important service innovations and developments have taken place. The national emergency operations centre has been established while improved technology has been provided to improve response times. We have developed the intermediate care service to provide lower acuity hospital transfers, which frees up emergency ambulances for the more urgent calls. The establishment of a permanent emergency aeromedical support service to provide a more timely response to persons in rural areas has also been a welcome development. All of us, including Deputy Cowen, know people who have had their lives saved because of that aeromedical support service.

We are also looking at alternatives to the current model of care, which requires every patient to be brought to an emergency department. The options under consideration include "hear and treat" where clinical advice is provided over the phone to callers who can then, if appropriate, be referred to other care pathways. We have evidence that people's lives have been saved by using the "hear and treat" methodology. I am advised that a recruitment process is under way for the necessary staff to facilitate the roll out of a pilot "hear and treat" model of care.

This ambulance reform programme is taking place against the backdrop of the HIQA review of ambulance services, which was published in late 2014, and the NAS capacity review, which was published earlier this year. The capacity review examined overall ambulance resource levels and distribution against demand and activity. Implementation of the recommendations of the capacity review will require a multi-annual programme of phased investment in ambulance manpower, vehicles and technology. In that regard, the Deputy can be assured that increased funding will be available to the NAS for 2017. The detail of the improvements to be funded will be provided in the HSE's 2017 national service plan. My officials are working closely with their counterparts in the HSE and the NAS to agree priorities in relation to the 2017 allocation.

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