AMBULANCE SERVICE DEALING WITH HIGH LEVEL OF ABSENTEEISM IN NORTH-EAST, TOWN COUNCIL TOLD

Serious concerns among the public about the availability and response times of ambulances in emergency medical situations in the Monaghan area were raised with leading ambulance service personnel by the members of Monaghan Town Council at their April meeting last week.

During an in-depth exchange of views, the service’s North Leinster Area Operations Manager William Merriman and Operations Programme Manager Paul Gallen responded to questions about ambulance delays, staffing levels, the nature and number of emergency vehicles available locally, and the possibility of hospitals north of the Border being accessed in emergency situations.

The protocols for dealing with callers seeking an ambulance in a medical emergency, and the methods deployed to ensure that ambulances expediently identified the location of emergencies were also discussed.
It was pointed out by the ambulance officials that difficulties had arisen …