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Pringle highlights vital services that community paramedics provide
- Updated: 30th November 2023
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, highlighted the vital services that community paramedics provide, as he called on Government to ensure they receive the supports they need.
Addressing the Tánaiste in the Dáil today, Deputy Pringle said: “There is a growing demand for healthcare services in this country and a severe shortage of primary care providers in many areas. There is no doubt that community paramedics bridge this gap, providing a vital service to communities across Ireland.
“A recent study by the National Ambulance Service Ireland has shown that 55.6 per cent of patients responded to by community paramedics were discharged to an alternative care pathway by those paramedics. This shows just how important community paramedics are in alleviating the pressure on our hospitals, and it is clear that increasing the volume of calls attended by community paramedics has the potential to significantly reduce the number presenting at hospital emergency departments and reduce ambulance transport hours as well.
“But they need support, Tánaiste, and they need proper training. And this can’t happen until S.I. number 109/2000 is amended,” he said.
The deputy raised the issue during questions on policy or legislation.
Deputy Pringle said: “I’m asking you, will you ask the Minister for Health to amend S.I. 109/2000, the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (Establishment) Order, 2000, to ensure that community paramedics can avail of proper training?”
In his response, the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, said he will speak to the Minister in respect of the research Deputy Pringle outlined, and said he thought it was very positive.
