Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I thank him for taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. I have two points to counter the one that keeps being thrown back that RRVs everywhere are routinely crewed by either a paramedic or an advanced paramedic. That is well and good but the point is the commitment was made that an advanced paramedic would be there 24-7 to cover Roscommon, specifically because of the closure and loss of the accident and emergency unit. It has been in place for 12 years and last May, very quietly, it was decided all of a sudden we did not need a full roster of advanced paramedics and would instead replace one with a paramedic. That is paired with the fact the people of Roscommon are now further from an emergency department than when the accident and emergency unit existed.

Those were the two grounds on which this commitment was made. It was made by the HSE and Fine Gael. The accident and emergency department was lost to the people of Roscommon. They were promised a very advanced ambulance service and now, from what I can see, that is being downgraded very quietly.

The paramedic and the advanced paramedic do not do the same job and do not have the same skills. That is outlined very much by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, which the Minister of State referenced in his response. There are 23 additional medications the advanced paramedic can administer. In cases of cardiac arrest, which is just one such instance, the advanced paramedic can act in a way that will see that patient more than likely have a better chance at survival. Only they can administer that medication and it is absolutely incorrect to suggest both types of paramedic do the same job and have the same skill set. That is not correct.

I ask that the Minister of State bring this back to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, because what has been outlined this evening is not satisfactory. I again ask that the roster of advanced paramedics that was committed to and promised by the Minister of State's party and the HSE be restored immediately.

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