The Health Service Executive has issued a statement to clarify that there is no reduction of National Ambulance Service cover currently or planned in the Kerry and south west region
The statement said the service has actually deployed additional staff over the last 12 months.
“The HSE is aware of concerns raised locally and confirms that existing NAS services continue, and will continue, to be provided from all existing ambulance stations,” the statement read.
The HSE said since September 2023, the HSE National Ambulance Service has deployed an additional 32 paramedics in the south west region. This includes seven additional paramedic interns who were deployed to the region in August this year.
Additional interns are expected to be recruited in the south west region in December once they complete their final exams.
Local line managers continue to manage the day-to-day challenges associated with gaps in rosters resulting from high levels of staff absence due to illness or injury.
“This means that any additional staff appointed must fill existing rosters and cover leave arrangements so that we can ensure we minimise the need for our staff to work overtime which can have a detrimental impact on their health and wellbeing,” the HSE said.
“This also makes sense in terms of maximising the use of our available resources.
“In both the short and medium term, we are engaging and consulting with our trade unions on how staff can best be deployed to deliver both current and future services in the region,” the health service organisation added.
An invitation was issued to trade unions in early August to engage on these matters. Meetings were subsequently held in September with a further information and consultation meeting proposed for next week.
All ambulance rosters in each location are designed to deliver maximum levels of service 24/7 while ensuring staff are rostered for 39 hours per week only.
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