IMPACT representatives have been appraised of the report of the expert panel into the ambulance services in Dublin which has recommended that the Dublin City Council’s Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) have full control over the Dublin ambulance service.
The review panel was established following the publication of a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report into the ambulance service in December 2014. Dublin City Council established a consultative forum, under an independent chairperson, to work towards securing agreement on a model of operation to address the recommendations in the HIQA report.
The report does not support the proposal to transfer the call taking/dispatch functions from DFB to the HSE run National Ambulance Service (NAS), on the grounds that removing any element of the DFB’s emergency service would have an adverse effect on patient care.
The report recommended “the implementation of more efficient joint dispatch procedures between the two organisations, which could be complemented by an integrated technical solution.”
IMPACT official Phil McFadden welcomed the report’s recommendation. “IMPACT and SIPTU made a joint recommendation to the expert panel. The fact that the report recommends the retention of the DFB ambulance control room in Tara Street is vitally important. As is the fact that the report has recommended that the DFB ambulance service be funded by the Department of Environment and not the HSE as proposed last year. This will consolidate an already excellent service.” The report acknowledges that the recommendations will present challenges for all parties involved.
The joint union group is due to have a meeting with the Ambulance Review Panel tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd December) to discuss any outstanding issues and concerns. IMPACT’s Dublin Firefighters and Officers Section Committee are currently considering the recommendations. There is another meeting with the review panel on 22nd January 2016.
