HSE confirms more paramedics and another ambulance to be provided in Laois

Laois will be given additional ambulance staff and an ambulance vehicle after concerns were raised last week regarding the lack of services available in the county. 

A 10-year-old girl in Portarlington was forced to wait over an hour for an ambulance recently after she began to suffer a heavy nosebleed. The nosebleed was of concern as the girl suffers from a blood disorder which means her blood does not clot.

The girl's mother, Ciara, was told by the emergency services operator that there were no ambulances available in Laois and so the family had to wait an hour and 10 minutes for the nearest ambulance to arrive from Athy in County Kildare.

Local Councillor Aidan Mullins and TD Brian Stanley since raised serious concerns regarding the lack of services available in Laois, especially that for two nights a week, Monday and Tuesday, there is only one ambulance available in the county.

Now, the HSE has confirmed that more resources will be provided in Laois. In a statement from the HSE, they said the National Service Plan 2026 will provide six additional paramedics to crew an additional ambulance based in Portlaoise.

This is a 30% increase in the number of staff based in Laois, with currently 20 staff and 5 five vehicles in Portlaoise.

This is part of a wider investment package for the National Ambulance Service (NAS) that will see an additional 263 whole-time equivalent staff delivered nationwide.

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The HSE said: "The NAS is undergoing a significant transformation programme to enhance service delivery, optimise resources, and expand its role in providing alternative and community-based care.

"Since 2022, additional investment has seen the NAS base budget increase by 41% (an additional €83 million) to €285 million in 2025.

"Over the same period, staffing levels have increased by 28%, with an additional 588 whole-time equivalent staff, bringing total NAS staffing to 2,655. Capital investment of €126 million has also been made in fleet replacement and expansion to support these developments."

Commenting on the news, Brian Stanley TD said: "Following my exchange with An Taoiseach in the Dáil last week regarding the shortcomings of the service in Laois, I have now been informed by the Director of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) Robert Morton of the increased resources."

Deputy Stanley continued: "I have made the case consistently over the past number of years for the service to be improved. It is unacceptable that there is just one ambulance available on Monday and Tuesday nights in the county. Also, that the number of staff has not been increased in the past two decades despite the huge increase in population of Laois."

As well as a shortage of staff and resources, Deputy Stanley also highlighted issues with the dynamic deployment system which means that ambulances based in Laois can be sent to any other county.

In response to the dynamic deployment and the shortage of services that has been raised in Laois, the HSE said: "Please note that the NAS operates a dynamic model of ambulance deployment, in line with international best practice. The NAS deploys through a nationally integrated model that ensures urgent calls receive the closest available emergency resource, regardless of county boundaries."