Army drafted in to cover for protesting ambulance crews

MEMBERS of the Defence Forces medical corps have been drafted in to take over from ambulance crews who have refused to provide night cover in parts of the South-East.

The Defence Forces were requested to provide emergency cover, after talks broke down at the Labour Relations Commission which resulted in ambulance crews in Gorey, Enniscorthy and New Ross, County Wexford refusing to work on-call from 7pm to 8am.

The row erupted last week when the union, SIPTU, claimed emergency medical technicians were being forced to work a normal week with an additional 65 hours on call.