asked the Minister for Health what regulations at present exist covering the qualification of persons employed as drivers, attendants and reliefs in the local authority ambulance services.
35.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Ambulance Services.
34.
asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that in future only persons who are fully trained and experienced in the handling of the sick and injured are employed in the local authority ambulance services as drivers, attendants and reliefs, and that the ambulances are fully equipped for the rendering of first aid to the sick and injured.
Mr. O'Malley
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
There are no regulations governing the qualifications of drivers and attendants employed in the local authority ambulance service; the requirements for such posts are determined by the employing authorities.
In the Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Dun Laoghaire Borough areas, where the emergency ambulance service is provided by the fire-brigades, and in Drogheda, where it is provided by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, all ambulance staff are trained in first aid and resuscitation techniques.
In the health authority ambulance service the normal practice is that where an emergency call is answered, the ambulance is accompanied by a nurse who provides the skilled care required by the patient. It has been recognised that in emergency calls the application of resuscitation measures can be of special importance and, three years ago, health authorities were asked to provide all ambulances sent on accident calls with resuscitation equipment and to have ambulance crews trained in its use. I have been informed by health authorities that this has been done. More recently health authorities have been asked to take steps to ensure that all ambulance drivers are also trained in first aid. Chief medical officers, to whom general responsibility for the organisation and operation of the ambulance service has been assigned, have been asked to give particular attention to this aspect of the service.
My Department issued recommendations in May, 1958 about the range of equipment which should be carried by each ambulance. This list has since been supplemented. In January last, when health authorities were asked to assign to chief medical officers general responsibility for the organisation and operation of the ambulance service it was recommended, inter alia, that these officers should satisfy themselves that the ambulances were suitably equipped medically.
I can assure the Deputy that I am fully conscious of the need to ensure that ambulance personnel are kept at a high level of competence and that the vehicles used are properly equipped. In this connection I am, at the moment, having a review carried out both in regard to training and equipment.