Ambulance Services consultation begins

The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety Minister, Bairbre de Brún, has announced the commencement of a consultation on the proposed implementation plans for improving ambulance services in the province.

Launching the consultation, the Minister how the Ambulance Service’s reaction to an incident could mean the difference between life and death. She said: “A strong and responsive Ambulance Service will be an integral element of a modern and effective Health and Social Services system. In recognition of this, the Service has received some £6 million in additional funding in recent years. Starting from this base, I believe that these plans, which have been drawn up, can lead to the establishment of an Ambulance Service which is capable of commanding the confidence of patients and health professionals alike, well into the 21st Century.”

The plans are the culmination of an extensive programme of work initiated in November last year for an integrated programme of measures designed to improve response times and the quality of care provided by the Ambulance Service. They include:

• a phased programme for improving the response performance of Accident and Emergency (A&E) ambulances;



• a new system of responding to emergency calls according to their relative urgency (Medical Priority Dispatch);



• establishing a Central A&E Control Centre;



• increases in the number of crews for A&E vehicles;



• the introduction of “Rapid Responders” in isolated areas; and



• investment in a range of modern control and communications technology.

In addition, there are detailed plans for enhancing the skills of ambulance service staff and setting up a formal system of Clinical Governance and Clinical Audit. It is also proposed that in future the four HSS Boards should commission ambulance services on a partnership basis which should lead to greater consistency of approach, priorities and standards in the delivery of ambulance services across the entire region.

The consultation period is due to end on Friday, February 15, 2002. (SP)