Laois TD tells Taoiseach of ambulance cover gaps due to 'dynamic deployment'

A Laois TD told the Taoiseach Micheál Martin that Laois is being left without ambulance cover because of ‘dynamic deployment’. 

Speaking in the Dáil, Independent Deputy Brian Stanley said “there is a problem with so-called dynamic deployment, and I really want to push the Taoiseach on this. What dynamic deployment means is that ambulances can be sent anywhere. An ambulance based in Laois could be sent as far as Cork or Waterford.” 

He said an ambulance crew can do 600km in a shift and are sometimes turned back with a couple of minutes of their destination under the system. 

“Recently in Laois, there was only one crew and one ambulance on call. When the crew clocked in, they were immediately sent to Wexford. Meanwhile, Laois was left without an ambulance. On Monday and Tuesday nights, there is only one ambulance available. An ambulance can take up two hours to arrive at locations within the county - it might not even arrive at all - because of this. That is no fault of the staff,” Dep Stanley told the Taoiseach. 

“Recently, a young person died less than a mile from the hospital. There is, as already noted, the one ambulance base in the county and there was no ambulance…. available to pick up that child. Two ambulances were on call at the time but both were attending calls in other counties,” said Dep Stanley. 

He said a decision by “some genius” around benefit in kind means advanced paramedics can’t bring vehicles home.  “We have less cover in the county than we had 15 years ago, despite the fact that the population has increased by over 40% and now stands at over 100,000. There is also a problem with the rapid-response vehicles in the county, namely the cars used by advanced paramedics. Again, there is less cover now. The drivers of those cars used to be allowed to bring them home.” 

Dep Stanley said there was also a shortage of staff and retention problems due to burnout. “The Irish Medical Times reported earlier this year that the critical shortage of advanced paramedics is endangering life,” he said. 

According to Dep Stanley, advanced paramedics are only reaching their targets 45 percent of the time in situations involving life threatening illness or injury. 

“Will the Government put an end to the madness of so-called dynamic deployment? Will it invest in more ambulances and increase the number of staff available? Will it step up recruitment immediately?” he asked. 

Mr Martin said “the issue of dynamic deployment has arisen since the configuration was developed many years ago. On the surface, I can instinctively empathise with the Deputy's point because it does mean that ambulances are travelling long distances. We have to respond to this in an evidence-based way. I will talk to the Minister for Health and have further engagement with the National Ambulance Service and the professionals involved as to what is the optimal deployment of staff and ambulances and what is the best way to do it.”  

He cited the situation in Dublin where Dublin Fire Brigade has provided an effective and efficient ambulance service. 

“We should be open to examining what is the optimal way to deploy the resources. Many professionals would say that what they are doing is the optimal way to do it. The Deputy is articulating a different perspective. I respect the points he is making, but I do think we probably need to look at this in a more evidence-based way. Perhaps the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health could examine it in more detail. The professionalisation of the service and the development two dedicated helicopter emergency medical services, for example, represents a significant expansion that is enhancing our response,” said Mr Martin. 

He said “as the Deputy knows, the key responder, namely an EMT or a first responder who is qualified and professional, can save lives. There have been a lot of very positive reforms and a great deal of significant investment in the service in the past number of years. There have been issues and, from time to time. Members have raised the matter to which Deputy Stanley refers.” 

Dep Stanley told the Taoiseach he was correct about investment but said it would lead to no benefit due to the configuration. 

“I previously raised the case of a farmer who a few years ago was left lying in a farmyard in the Clonaslee area for two hours because there was no ambulance available in Portlaoise to be sent to assist him,” he pointed out. 

“The officials will give the Taoiseach answers and will blind him with the figures they have available, but he needs to look at the reality of what is happening. I am spelling out the reality in black and white,” he said. 

“I am asking the Taoiseach to review this dynamic deployment. The Government needs to do it, invest in more ambulances and step-up recruitment of staff,” he added.