Report from Radiokerry.ie
Killarney Town Council is to write to the HSE about the future of the ambulance service in the south Kerry area.
Councillor Donal Grady said he was aware of incidents recently where three different people from other emergency services had to drive the ambulance as paramedics were tied up with patients.
The HSE National Ambulance Service told Radio Kerry News that in exceptional and rare circumstances members of other emergency services on the scene are authorised to drive vehicles. This is in cases where the paramedics are engaged in saving the life of a patient rather than driving the vehicle. Meanwhile, following a private meeting with interest groups in Killarney on Tuesday night the HSE South announced its ambulance plan for south Kerry. It says the service will not be downgraded, instead on-call practices will be phased out and the number of advanced paramedics will be increased. In total across the region there will be three full time ambulances available on a 24 hour basis plus additional emergency vehicles covering Killarney, Kenmare and Caherciveen.
