A decision to reduce ambulance services in Cork and Kerry will put lives at risk, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns.
Deputy Cairns, who is a TD for Cork South-West, said:
“Without any prior consultation with staff, senior management of the National Ambulance Service have announced their intention to reduce ambulance cover in Cork and Kerry from September 23.
“It effectively means shifts will be ‘consolidated’ in each base, so that, in many stations, one entire day shift per week will be dropped across Cork/Kerry.
“The decision by NAS management to reduce ambulance cover needs to be revoked. It will inevitably put lives at risk. Anyone who lives in a rural area already knows that ambulance response times are far too long. We are now looking at a situation where they will take even longer.
“The elderly, ill and disabled people, as well as those living alone, are going to be especially endangered by these changes.
“These shifts had previously been non-rostered, covered by relief staff and overtime. This speaks to the lack of workforce planning in the NAS and the need for an expansion of the service. Incredibly, NAS management have taken the opposite approach and slashed the service.
“This decision does a massive disservice to the incredible frontline staff within the NAS. They do their very best every day to save lives, despite the desperate lack of resources. And when management makes these decisions, it falls on frontline staff to witness the impact on people’s lives for the failings of the service.
“Cost saving measures are being valued over the lives of those living in Cork and Kerry. This decision must be reversed immediately, and the NAS must begin to work towards expanding their service rather than reducing it.”
September 16, 2024