Co Clare to benefit from 12% expansion of ambulance cover

National Ambulance Service officials have confirmed plans are under way for over 20 new frontline emergency care staff to be appointed in Clare.

Co Clare is set to receive a significant investment in the National Ambulance Service (NAS), as plans are under way for a 12% expansion of cover to to be delivered across the county this year.

NAS officials have confirmed plans are under way for over 20 new frontline emergency care staff to be appointed in Clare.

Six whole-time equivalent positions will be based in Kilrush, six in Ennistymon — with the location of the remaining eight to be finalised.

Meanwhile, a further six whole-time equivalent intermediate care posts will be assigned to Ennis, while five additional ambulances will be allocated across the county.

A new whole-time equivalent community paramedic post is also expected to be based in Clare, bringing the total number in the region to four.

The news was confirmed by NAS officials at a briefing for Mid-West Oireachtas members.

Clare TD Joe Cooney said: “There will also be a strong focus on improving services in West and North Clare, where challenges around distance and historic underinvestment have long been recognised.” 

He added: “There is more work to do, and I, along with my Mid-West colleagues, will be engaging further with the minister for health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, to ensure Clare and the wider Mid-West receive the investment required over the coming years.”

This comes as calls were made for an air ambulance base to be developed in Co Clare, following the news a 44-acre site has been purchased in Raheen, Limerick, to facilitate a new hospital campus and tackle overcrowding in the region.