Ambulance service ‘not where it needs to be’

The head of the HSE has said the ambulance service is not “where it needs to be” after revelations led to a spat between managers and frontline staff.

On Thursday night, RTÉ’s Investigations Unit claimed the ambulance fleet has major problems which are impacting on patient care. It found just one in three people with life-threatening conditions were responded to within recommended Hiqa times last year.

It also claimed some parts of the country are left without ambulance care, while it alleged rapid response vehicles allocated to managers are “rarely” used for frontline care.