Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
580. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the implementation on the national deployment model for advanced paramedics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42744/12]
View answer581. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason despite 40,000 call outs per year with no cost implications, that his deployment policy for advanced paramedics and with six advanced paramedics based in the station, that the roll out has not taken place in Limerick City and County; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42745/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 581 together.
The HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides pre-hospital emergency care and emergency and some non-emergency patient transport. Supported by my Department and by HIQA, the NAS is working to improve the management and integration of its services. This includes a reduction to two ambulance control centres nationally, with appropriate technology, a clinical lead for pre-hospital care and development of new performance indicators for pre-hospital care. In addition, a number of new service types are being introduced , such as the use of advanced paramedics and rapid response vehicles where required, as well as intermediate care services, for dedicated stretcher-based transport which doesn't use emergency resources.
The NAS operates under the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) EMS Priority Dispatch Standard, which identifies the appropriate resource to be dispatched to emergency calls. This standard is in line with the recently published HIQA National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, which set out the principles for timely and clinically appropriate responses.
The NAS and the Irish Ambulance Representative Council (IARC) are currently engaged in discussions, under the Croke Park Agreement, to develop a national agreement on practitioner deployment.The aim is that the right skill mix is available to the right patient in the right place at the right time. The NAS and IARC have agreed a number of measures to date on changes to service delivery. In this context, the NAS has developed a performance improvement plan to provide for a consistent approach to implementation, so that the maximum number of patients will benefit.
The Performance Improvement Implementation Plan is progressing across the NAS, against a backdrop of available resources, leading to real improvements in patient care. In relation to advanced paramedics, it identifies the requirements to: re-arrange rosters so that advanced paramedics are not rostered together; ensure that advanced paramedics are not routinely dispatched to lower acuity calls; ensure, where possible, that available advanced paramedic capacity is spread across the roster to provide the maximum cover possible.
Advanced paramedic capacity in Limerick City and County is being deployed in accordance with these developments. The HSE recognises the requirement to continue the development of advanced paramedic capacity and, on the basis of current numbers in training, will increase the numbers of advanced paramedics within the NAS by 30% over the next year.
The NAS has undergone significant change in order to ensure quality, safety and value for money. In line with other clinical areas, this process is ongoing as clinical needs and standards develop. I believe that these developments are in the best interests of patients, and that they are a key part of the Government's work to ensure high quality emergency care.
