Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 7

Written Answers. - South-Eastern Health Board Ambulance Service.

Theresa Ahearn

Question:

103 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by the South-Eastern Health Board to replace nurses on ambulance service by attendants, resulting in all male crews; if he will ensure that a nurse is appointed to all ambulance service vehicles in the South-Eastern Health Board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The provision of ambulance services in the South-Eastern Health Board area is a matter for the board in the first instance.

It is national policy that ambulances be staffed by two trained ambulance personnel. I understand from the board that two person crewing was introduced into the South-Eastern Health Board Ambulance Service in all four stations in County Wexford in 1978. Two person crewing was introduced in Waterford city in the early eighties and when the ambulance service was reopened in Tipperary town in 1993 the policy was maintained. I understand from the board that there were no female applicants for the posts.

I understand from the South-Eastern Health Board that in areas where ambulance nurses are on-call to the service, it is intended to introduce two person crewing and to offer some nurses fulltime posts as ambulance personnel. The board has indicated that by employing full-time ambulance personnel response times in the emergency ambulance service will be improved.

Nurses in the ambulance service will be clearly identified as ambulance personnel and fully integrated into the organisational structure of the service and will undergo the development and advanced training programmes on the same basis as other ambulance personnel. If a doctor requests that a nurse be present on the ambulance for patients who require acute nursing care, a nurse will be made available.

The Deputy will be aware that a review of ambulance services is currently being undertaken by my Department, together with the health boards. Among the areas to be covered by this review will be the organisation, management and training in the ambulance services. It would be intended that the recommendations of this review group would be taken into account by the health boards when considering any future developments in this area. The review is ongoing and it is expected that a report will be ready for presentation to me during the summer.