Labour demand Government action for National Ambulance Services workers
Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith has urged Government to come to the table and invest in Ireland’s National Ambulance Services (NAS).
Deputy Smith said a business case must be made by the HSE urgently to address the failure to implement the reforms of the ambulance service as per the ‘Roles and Responsibilities’ report.
Deputy Smith said:
“Reforms in Ireland’s NAS is long overdue. Labour is demanding immediate engagement from the Minister for Health and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to implement the full recommendations of the report, which was agreed in conjunction with management and SIPTU.
“The report identified new structures for the service including revised pay scales that take account of the roles carried out by workers. It beggars belief that Government are still dragging their heels on such vital pay increases for such vital work.
“Our ambulance service is losing staff and is already totally overstretched. What sort of message does this lack of action send to potential recruits as well as hard working people in the Service?
“It is incredible the state is allowing the restructuring of our NAS to be long fingered when we know the need for supporting and investing in the service is desperately needed.
“Workers cannot continue to pay the price for Government inaction. Like all other workers, NAS staff are not immune from the high cost of living. Government needs to stop undervaluing the vital work these people carry out. We know that a fast response time by trained paramedics can be the difference between life and death. Resources need to be allocated in this area to ensure Ireland’s ambulance service is fully fit and functioning.”