Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
629. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed takeover of Dublin Fire Brigade by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14832/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirst, let me be clear that the National Ambulance Service (NAS) is not taking over ambulance services from Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB). What is proposed are changes to call management and clinical governance, with a view to improving the service. DFB will continue to provide emergency ambulance services in Dublin, through its own vehicles and staff, and DFB fire vehicles will continue to support the emergency ambulance services, as needed.
HIQA, in its report of December last year, identified serious patient safety concerns over a lack of coordination between the DFB ambulance service and the NAS. The urgent need to address these issues was stressed, particularly for 999/112 call-taking and ambulance dispatch, as well as overall clinical governance. Following discussions, the HSE and Dublin City Council agreed in principle that all 999/112 ambulance calls for the Dublin region, and the tasking and dispatching of DFB and NAS ambulances, will be from a single centre, the new National Emergency Operations Centre in Tallaght. In addition, clinical governance of Dublin ambulance services will become the responsibility of the NAS Medical Director.
The new arrangements for call management, dispatch and clinical governance are designed to ensure a better, safer service for the people of Dublin. One centre will receive all calls, have sight of all available resources and dispatch the nearest available resource.
The HSE and Dublin City Council have established a joint implementation group, which is currently examining ways to progress the necessary changes over a period of six months. Dublin Fire Brigade staff, through their union, are being fully consulted on these changes, and a joint Dublin City Council/Union group has been set up to move the process forward.
