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.

The union said this was unviable and, following the breakdown of talks with the South-Eastern Health Board, ambulance crews at the three stations withdrew night cover on Saturday.

Chief ambulance officer Loughlin Nolan said he wanted to assure the public that, despite SIPTU’s withdrawal of night cover, emergency calls would be dealt with.

The action is limited, as the ambulance crews have agreed to work their normal daytime shifts.

A spokeswoman for the SEHB said it was regrettable that SIPTU had refused to accept a compromise: “Various proposals were put forward by the SHEB, including the reduction in on-call from 90 hours to 32 hours every fortnight and its elimination completely by the end of the year.”

She said the SEHB was calling on SIPTU to refer the matter to the Labour Court in the interest of patient care.

Following the collapse of talks the union informed health board management on Friday that it intended to take action at the three ambulance stations.

However, 10 emergency medical technicians based at the Wexford town ambulance station are not involved in the dispute as they have a different rostering accord.

“The board is always available for discussion on this issue,” the SEHB spokeswoman said.