Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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1042. To ask the Minister for Health the National Ambulance Service's plans for the roll out of intermediate care vehicles in Drogheda; the process for the engagement of personnel to operate the service; if recruitment arrangements are currently open regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27928/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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A significant reform programme has been underway in recent years in pre-hospital care services, to ensure a clinically driven, nationally co-ordinated system, supported by improved technology. The programme involves a number of measures, including the Performance Improvement Action Plan, development of the intermediate care service (ICS), the trial emergency aeromedical service (EAS), and the NAS Control Centre Reconfiguration Project.

In July 2012, the HSE National Ambulance Service commenced developing non-emergency transport, through a national intermediate care service (ICS) , which is key to resolving bed and clinical management pressures. ICS will allow for safe, planned and timely clinical transfers of inpatients to the most appropriate facility, depending on their acuity and clinical needs. This will allow for beds to be made available for higher acuity admissions through emergency departments. ICS will also release emergency resources from this service and back to emergency functions, for improved response times and performances in pre-hospital care.

To date, ICS has been implemented in Cavan, Castleblayney, South County Dublin, Letterkenny, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Roscommon, Mallow and Bantry. Supported by the 2013 National Service Plan, the NAS intends to expand ICS to Waterford, Cork Tralee, Castlebar and Drogheda and to increase services in Dublin and Galway during 2013.

In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.