Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to commend my colleague, Deputy Cullinane, on introducing the motion. Nowhere is it more evident how vital the National Ambulance Service is than in a rural community and constituency like my own. Nowhere are funding cuts, staff shortages, burnout and inadequate facilities more evident more keenly felt than in rural communities. I know from the calls that I have received on this issue that the service is not fit for purpose in counties Carlow and Kilkenny. It is totally and utterly unfair to those who work in the sector. A recent incident reported in Carlow emerged where a Thurles ambulance crew from County Tipperary were sent to Tullow, County Carlow, only to be diverted to New Ross, County Wexford, then on to Kilkenny before being sent back to Carlow town. This is a regular occurrence. It is absolute craziness.

Carlow's ambulance crew has been screaming out for a new depot, as the current facilities on the ground at St. Dympna's Hospital are completely unacceptable. The Minister should visit the site, if he has not already, to see how inadequate they are. A new ambulance base is needed. I ask that that be prioritised.

The shortage of paramedics in counties Carlow and Kilkenny was evident recently in the case of a constituent who had to wait on the side of the street for an ambulance for two hours. This was not the fault of the people working in the sector, who are overstretched and burnt out. On top of the burnout and the crazy situation facing staff, they are also working 18-hour shifts and face long drives home. Many have to opt to stay in a local hotel, if possible, due to the tiredness. Paramedics seem to be diverted all over the place. Life and death decisions are being made by overstretched and under-resourced paramedics, which is unacceptable. I reiterate how unfair this is to those working in the sector.

If resources in an area are already responding to calls, the job is then given to the next available ambulance, which could be hours away from where the caller is. In counties Carlow and Kilkenny, that could mean an ambulance being dispatched from anywhere in the country.

In January 2020, SIPTU called for immediate and effective action to be taken by the Minister for Health and HSE to relieve the pressure being experienced by ambulance professionals throughout the country. It was ignored, and the unacceptable situation of paramedics treating patients in the loading bays of hospitals instead of hospital beds has continued. I cannot impress on the Minister enough that our services and personnel must be resourced so that they can perform their duties to the best of their ability. I commend all those who work in that sector. I do not know how they do it. Their morale must be so low at times.

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