Siptu calls for Hiqa ambulance review to consider resources

Siptu has called for an upcoming Hiqa probe into ambulance response times to include a review of the resourcing provided to the service.

The union made the call as it revealed its research had found Ireland’s budget for its ambulance service was just over half that of Scotland, even though the countries have similar populations.

Siptu health organiser Paul Bell said it was the union’s understanding that Hiqa would shortly evaluate the performance of the service here based on a number of key indicators.

“Central to these is whether first responders are responding to emergency calls within the just under eight minutes recommendation for situations classed as life-threatening,” he said. “This follows reports in recent weeks of incidents where this response time was not achieved and may have led to a tragic outcome for patients. In order to properly review the ability of the ambulance service to achieve its targets in relation to these key performance indicators (KPIs) — which are based on similar targets implemented by ambulance services in the north and Scotland — the Hiqa review must also examine the resourcing of the various services.”

The Siptu research found that the approximate annual budget for the ambulance service in the Republic of Ireland was €130m compared to £200m (€240m) in Scotland. The populations the services covered were approximately 4.6m here and 5.3m in Scotland.

“Both those who serve in the ambulance service and the public must have confidence that resources are at a level which allows for the achievement of KPIs based on best international practice,” said Mr Bell. “Hiqa must make its findings on these issues known to the Minister of Health and Children who is obliged to act in a manner which ensures that the ambulance service is resourced so it can achieve the level of excellence that our members are committed to attaining.”

Mr Bell said his union’s ambulance shop stewards also believed the matter should be referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, at which he said all the stakeholders could contribute to the discussion on why KPI targets were not being attained.