Health board forced to call in Army

A HEALTH board says it has been forced to call in the Defence Forces several times in the past 10 weeks because of industrial action by ambulance staff.

Fears are growing that the service could come under further strain as ambulance staff refuse to provide out-of-hours cover.

Trade union SIPTU informed the South Eastern Health Board (SEHB) on May 10 that staff in the Co Wexford ambulance stations in Gorey, Enniscorthy and New Ross, would withdraw from on-call duties.