Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health. I thank Deputy Kerrane for the opportunity to update the House on delivery of ambulance services in Roscommon, including the important emergency response role carried out by the rapid resource vehicle, RRV.

I am informed that in the context of the National Ambulance Service emergency response operations across the country, RRVs are routinely resourced by both advanced paramedics and paramedics. In this regard, I have been assured that the National Ambulance Service is in full compliance with Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council regulatory emergency response dispatch standards. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate the rapid advances in pre-hospital emergency care practitioner skills sets made in recent years.

I am also informed that a vacancy on the emergency ambulance roster arose last year, which has been offered via a national transfer process. I made inquiries on this matter and the update I got was that the National Ambulance Service has advised the transfer window is not open yet but is expected to be open by the end of this month. The last window was December. That was unsuccessful so the position will be offered again this month.

Turning to ambulance service resourcing in Roscommon more generally, the National Ambulance Service serves the county out of three bases located in Roscommon, Boyle and Loughglinn, which all operate on a 24-7 basis. All three bases are staffed by a highly skilled workforce of intermediate care operatives, paramedics and advanced paramedics, and a fleet of modern emergency ambulances, intermediate care vehicles and RRVs. I note that in the past three years National Ambulance Service staffing in the county has increased by nearly a quarter. It has gone from 26 whole-time equivalents in January 2021 to 32 in December just gone. That is an increase of six, which is 23%.

I acknowledge the engagement by the Deputy in relation to the National Ambulance Service's Loughglinn ambulance base. Ambulance resources in the Roscommon region are deployed by the service dynamically in line with international best practice, which allows the service to prioritise resource allocation to the highest acuity calls that require an immediate response.

The National Ambulance Service is also a vital partner in supporting the delivery of the HSE’s urgent and emergency care plan through development and expansion of a range of clinically appropriate alternative care pathways to improve patient flow and reduce pressure on emergency departments. In this regard, I particularly welcome two alternative care pathway developments last year in Roscommon which involved the implementation of medical assessment unit and local injury unit patient pathways for 112-999 patients who, where deemed clinically appropriate, do not require treatment in a busy hospital emergency department and can be better looked after in an alternative care setting.

The further development and expansion of initiatives such as these in Roscommon are vital in transforming the delivery of urgent and emergency care, improving patient access to care and enhancing patient healthcare experiences and outcomes. I know the National Ambulance Service is committed to providing these going forward. I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff of the National Ambulance Service and to all the ambulance services for their commitment and dedication to patient care in County Roscommon and across the country.

See this speech in context