Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 5

Written Answers. - Ambulance Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

201 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if the ambulance services are adequately staffed and equipped to meet all eventualities in the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27781/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, and each of the seven health boards are responsible for the provision of ambulance services in their functional areas.

National ambulance standards were introduced to the ambulance service a number of years ago by the National Ambulance Advisory Council, NAAC, the precursor to the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, PHECC. The standards cover the areas of training, equipment and the ambulance fleet.

My Department is advised by the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority that the equipment standard in particular is a recognised standard and is exceeded in most cases. My Department is also advised that staffing levels in the service are based on service need and that adequate numbers of ambulance personnel are employed in the service to respond to current need.

All ambulance staff are fully qualified emergency medical technicians and the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, the primary function of which is to develop appropriate standards in pre-hospital emergency care, is in the process of introducing a register and registration system for all qualified, newly qualified and conversion-trained EMTs. The council has also submitted proposals to my Department on the development of an emergency medical technician advanced programme. The proposals were accepted and I officially launched the programme earlier this year.

The roll-out of this programme, together with the ambulance standards already in place, is designed to ensure service comparability with best international practice.