Vol. 467 No. 4
87 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health whether an ambulance service is currently considered an essential or an emergency service; whether the terms and conditions of each emergency service is compatible with each other; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13241/96]
Limerick East): The review group on the ambulance service in its report of December 1993 stated that the ambulance service is an emergency service. The report of the review group has been accepted by Government and forms the basis of Government policy in relation to the ambulance service. However, classification as an emergency service does not suggest that ambulance personnel are being asked to carry out the same duties as either the fire service personnel or the Garda. Each emergency service has its own specific role.
While the ambulance service acts as an emergency service in respect of its accident and emergency work, approximately half of all ambulance calls are not of an emergency nature but are related to the routine transport of patients.
