Ambulance service needs 'more of everything, everywhere', but especially in rural Ireland

National Ambulance Service director Robert Morton: 'Right across the country we would accept we do not have enough resources, pretty much everywhere, particularly in large rural areas.' Picture: Denis Minihane

The National Ambulance Service “needs more of everything, everywhere”, with rural areas worst affected, its director has said.

An Oireachtas health committee heard in one case, a patient had to be transferred to Cork from Sligo by ambulance because of a shortage of helicopters.

Robert Morton said: “Right across the country we would accept we do not have enough resources, pretty much everywhere, particularly in large rural areas.” 

He added: “We would absolutely accept we need more of everything, everywhere.” 

Fine Gael TD Colm Burke described patients transferred by road to Cork hospitals from Sligo via Galway and from Clare via Limerick. Both had what he called “not very good outcomes”.

Mr Morton said staff on the ground decide where best to take patients but the bigger issue is gaps in helicopter air ambulance cover. 

“So quite often patients are exposed to quite considerable journeys,” he said. “Sligo to Cork is a perfect example; ideally we would make that transfer by air ambulance.” 

He also said they get between 1,000 and 1,200 calls daily. A small number of people wait over one hour every day and a smaller number over two hours.

Labour health spokeswoman Marie Sherlock raised questions about a “poisonous environment” between managers and staff. She also referred to reports this summer of sexual harassment.

Mr Morton said mandatory training was required on these issues.

“In the last three years, we’ve had 41 dignity at work complaints. Seventeen of those met the threshold for further investigation,” he said.

“Of those 17 complaints, three of them related to actual sexual harassment. We’re dealing with a case right now.” 

He added: “Of those three cases, there has been one dismissal and two others have been sanctioned. We take the matter really, really seriously.” 

Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane asked about previous allegations around hiring practices and “derogatory comments” in a leaked recording.

Pat Healy, national director for services and schemes, said investigations were “at an advanced stage” and he could not comment yet.

Mr Cullinane also asked about allowances received by senior management, but Mr Morton declined to respond.

The National Ambulance Service answered more than 430,000 emergency calls in 2024, up 10% on 2023. It predicts this year will see over 450,000 calls.

Some 74% of life-threatening cardiac or respiratory arrest calls and 46% life-threatening illness or injury calls were responded to within 18 minutes and 59 seconds last year. 

The targets are 75% and 45%.