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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Jul 1999

Vol. 507 No. 4

Written Answers. - Ambulance Service.

Alan Shatter

Question:

125 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he is taking to implement the recommendations made both by the National Ambulance Advisory Council and the review group on the ambulance service on a training syllabus for ambulance personnel; and the consideration, if any, given by him to the establishment of a national ambulance authority to ensure that the ambulance emergency medical services are developed and improved in the interests of those who require this service. [16984/99]

I consider the training of ambulance personnel to be a central and fundamental element in the delivery of an efficient and effective ambulance service. A new basic training syllabus for ambulance personnel which was recommended by the review group on the ambulance service was developed by the national ambulance advisory council. Agreement with staff interests on the implementation of the new training programmes was reached in 1997 and to date more than two thirds of all ambulance personnel have now completed the basic training course.

The review group recommends that the national priority should be to provide a significant improvement in the quality of the training provided for current personnel across the eight health boards on a national basis. The basic life support training which Irish ambulance personnel receive compares very favourably with best international standards. This training covers all areas of basic life support including emergency cardiac care, emergency childbirth and head/spinal injuries. The use of a defibrillator in the training which Irish ambulance personnel receive at least equals and often exceeds the level of training provided to ambulance personnel in other countries. When an overall improvement in training is achieved, the question of advanced and paramedic training will be addressed in line with the recommendations of the review group.

In relation to the establishment of a national ambulance authority the review group's recommendation on this issue was that ambulance services should continue to be managed by the statutory health agencies engaged in the provision of hospital care in order to promote close integration of the pre-hospital and hospital sectors. The national ambulance advisory council was established on foot of the recommendations of the review to ensure that uniform standards of service operate throughout the country. The council was operating under the aegis of my Department. A review of the structure and role of the council to strengthen its capacity to fulfil its remit has recently been completed and I expect to be able to make an announcement in this regard shortly.

Since the publication of the report of the review group on the ambulance service approximately £23 million in addition funding has been provided for the implementation of the report's recommendations. The additional funding has resulted in major improvements in the service including the improvements in the training of ambulance personnel; improvements in the specification and age profile of the ambulance fleet; regional command and control centres are operational in five health board areas, a joint fire and ambulance command and control centre for the Dublin area has recently been commissioned and construction and equipping of similar centres is at an advanced stage in the remaining health boards; the opening of additional ambulance stations, and the provision of training and equipment to general practitioners in remote rural areas, on a pilot basis, to enable them to deal with emergencies in advance of the arrival of an ambulance.
I am firmly committed to the full implementation of all the review group's recommendations and this year's additional funding of more than £7 million represents the largest annual amount ever provided for the development of the ambulance service.
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