Crowe concerned at  reduction of Ambulance Service cover in Dublin and Tallaght area

Dublin Southwest Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has expressed concerns that a proposed cut in working hours affecting the National Ambulance Service will result in a reduction or a lack of coverage  for areas like Tallaght from September onwards.The Tallaght based Deputy is concerned that  proposals to reduce working week hours will inevitably result diectly in a lack of coverage, impact on response times and the overal quality of service delivered.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“I am extremely concerned at reports that a reduction of the working week from 40 hours to 39 hours will result in the  loss of existing Ambulance coverage in areas like Tallaght.  Shift changes on Mondays between the   hours of 7am and 7pm are proposed for the Tallaght Station.   If this proposal gets the go ahead, this will leave only one Ambulance operating out of the Belgard Road,Tallaght, on that day where normally a second Ambulance Service is  available.

“Similar proposed cuts to other Stations may also impact on the likes of Tallaght and stretch out even more a greatly reduced service throughout the  Dublin region.

“This proposal will inevitably lead to longer response times for medical emergencies and impact on the quality of the service.

“The reduction or loss of the Ambulance Service will likely endanger lives in a large urban area that is already lacking in essential emergency cover and also place additional pressure  on the remaining  crews who will still be expected to cover an  even wider geographical area in response to emergency calls

“These cuts to frontline services are happening supposedly to save money in this particular area by the Health Service Executive. A root and branch  restructuring approach of that organisation by Health Minister O Reilly was promised  but has failed to materialise.                            

“Surely if there has to be any cuts then it should be in the area of wasteful duplication, not critical frontline services.                     
“If there has to be financial  saving cuts then why not a cull of  top heavy management structures. Or why not take a look  at the suggestion of the establishment of a new  unified City and County Ambulance and Fire Service.

“This imaginative suggestion could potentially make substantial savings while at the same time delivering a new improved emergency service in the Dublin Region. This would also overnight  lay the foundations in a pro active way for an even more effective emergency service for our  Capital City.”
ENDS