This article is from page 16 of the 2008-02-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
AMBULANCE personnel across the county have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action, if a staffing cri- sis within the service is not resolved.
It is estimated that more than 20 new personnel are required to bring employee numbers up to a quota ca- pable of delivering a proper and safe 24-hour service to the county.
SIPTU ambulance service employ- ees across the country are also dis- eruntled with the HSE which signed contracts with three private compa- nies.
When asked this week if the HSE Mid West had signed a contract with a private operator to do out of hours or overtime emergency work in Clare, a spokesperson said, “Private operators will be used if necessary to maintain life-saving services in accordance with the National Ambu- lance Service policy.”
Meanwhile, the HSE has apolo- gised to the three west Clare moth- ers left without ambulance cover to get them safely to hospital to deliver their babies.
Speaking on behalf of the Min- ister for Health, Minister of State Pat “The Cope’ Gallagher said that it was regrettable that the mothers
Should have suffered undue distress, particularly as the birth of a child should take place in a safe, secure environment.
“Tl have been advised that while, thankfully, such incidents are rare, the HSE will examine the circum- stances which culminated in the un- fortunate events.”
“The HSE apologises unreservedly to the three mothers. Both the min- ister and myself hope that the events leading up to the birth of these babies have not taken from the joy which the birth of a child brings to parents,” he said.
Minister Gallagher was respond- ing to the issues raised by Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen during a debate on ambulance services.
The deputy was referring to young Kilrush mums Mary O’Gorman, who gave birth on the family couch; Anna Jenkins, who was taken to hospital in Limerick by her father when an ambulance failed to arrive one hour after it was called; and mother of three Patricia Keane who gave birth on the side of the road in the family car.
He said that while all three babies were delivered safely, inadequate ambulance cover in the county was putting lives at risk.