Ambulance service 'at crisis point' with fatal consequences say angry councillors

Emergency ambulance services in North Tipperary are “crumbling” according to local Councillors and there have been fatal consequences to what elected representatives described as “disgraceful” neglect of the essential service.

A young man died of an asthma attack in Roscrea last year after his family waited for two hours for an ambulance to arrive.

Ian McCarthy passed away in the early hours of August 1st last year after collapsing in the Roscrea home in Cois Eaglais he shared with wife Celine and their three young children.

Family, friends and neighbours tried in desperation to save the 29 year-old as they waited for paramedics.

The issue of unacceptably long waiting time for ambulance services was raised at the monthly meeting of the Municipal Council for the Thurles, Roscrea and Templemore areas on Monday, where angry councillors described a state of crisis, where staff are disillusioned and "at breaking point" attempting to cover overwhelming levels of call outs to emergencies.

The debate was raised through a notice of motion in the names of Councillors Michéal Lowry and Councillor Shane Lee, calling for an "urgent update" from the HSE National Ambulance Service as to how it is addressing the lack of resources for emergency response providers in their district.

They also asked the HSE to confirm when they envisage the Thurles and Roscrea ambulance bases will be fully crewed and to confirm the number of advance paramedics currently rostered in both bases against the numbers in 2016.

Cllr. Lowry told the meeting "there seems to be a reluctance to train and upskill in the HSE" and that ambulance response times which should average 19 minutes, are instead taking one hour and 40 minutes.

Councillor Lee highlighted the tragic death of the young man in Roscrea from an asthma attack last year and said he has received numerous calls from people in Roscrea and surrounding areas who have waited hours for paramedics to arrive, sometimes travelling from neighbouring counties while the Roscrea ambulance service is unmanned.

"We need to get clarity on what the numbers are - there seems to be one number for PR purposes and the reality is different," Cllr Lowry said.

Thurles based independent councillor, Jim Ryan, who has long campaigned for better services and review of ambulance services in the district, said the service is currently "crumbling and falling asunder".

"There's not enough people and they're not paid enough", Cllr Ryan said.

"The stark reality is that after the Nenagh Accident and Emergency closed in 2008 we were told there were going to be more advanced paramedics when there used to be four - now there are none," the Councillor said.

"The rapid response car in Nenagh only operates at 50% capacity and for the last two weekends there was no ambulance available in Thurles", Cllr Ryan said.

Another issue raised by the councillors is the recent decision by Revenue to charge Benefit in Kind (BIK) tax to advanced paramedics who use their vehicle as transport to and from work.

One of the paramedics known to Cllr Ryan performed 230 callouts last year on a voluntary basis.

"It is absolutely disgraceful treatment of our paramedics and first responders", Cllr Ryan said, seconding calls by councillors for the Municipal Council to contact Finance Minister, Paschal Donoghue, asking him to instruct Revenue not to charge the BIK tax to emergency workers in such a position.