Lowry pledges to keep reform of the ambulance service to the fore in upcoming Dáil Term

‘News in recent weeks that a 93-year-old woman had collapsed and broken her hip on a street in Nenagh and was subsequently left waiting for almost 90 minutes for an ambulance to arrive cuts at the heart of every person in this country. It is shameful and totally unacceptable. Our elderly people deserve better, every citizen of this country deserves better’ says Deputy Michael Lowry.

‘This incident is a sad reflection of the ongoing state of our Ambulance Service and proves, beyond doubt, that this critical life-saving service must be reviewed, its ongoing problems addressed and its overall provision made fit for purpose’ says the Tipperary Deputy.

‘In a Statement later on the incident in Nenagh, the HSE stated that they were “experiencing very high demand for 999 services for patients with immediate life-threatening injuries and illnesses which, unfortunately, meant that some patients had longer waits.”

‘One wonders how many others waited that day – how many wait every single day and night for a dedicated life-saving service that is failing in its duty of care due to gross under-staffing and excessive delays at hospital A&E’s where they are forced to sit and wait to transfer a patient.

‘In the lifetime of the current Government I have raised or referenced the state of the National Ambulance Service on numerous occasions. In 2021 I called for an urgent Independent Review of the Ambulance Service. Following that call, I was contacted by Paramedics, patients and Medical Professionals from every corner of the country who relayed story after story to me about problems in the Service.

‘Their stories were all underscored by the same message. The Ambulance Service, as it currently stands, cannot cope with the demands placed on it. Paramedics, who are recognised globally as being amongst the most highly skilled medical professionals, are worn out and totally disillusioned.

‘The primary function of Paramedics is the provision of Pre-Hospital Emergency Care. Their work saves countless lives. When they arrive at A&E to transfer their patient their job has been completed and they should be free to attend to their next urgent call-out.

‘This is not happening. Instead, ambulances can be delayed for hours due to over-crowded Emergency Departments as the receiving hospital staff has no place for the patient. Therefore, the patient must remain on the ambulance until the hospital can accommodate them.

‘Until the issues with overcrowding in our Emergency Departments are tackled and until the problems with Recruitment to the service are addressed our Ambulance Service cannot function efficiently.

‘Exactly one year ago Robert Morton, Director of the National Ambulance Service, spoke candidly on National Radio and warned of the need to double the existing workforce – this was not the first and only time he made such a call. Yet nothing has changed.

‘As a result, urgent life-saving care will inevitably be delayed for some patients. This is a worrying and frightening situation and one that must be kept high on the Government’s priorities in the coming term. I intend to continue to ensure that this happens’ concludes Deputy Lowry.