Donegal ambulance service improvements included new staff and extended rosters

An additional 12 Paramedics utilised for the backfill of operational shifts due to annual and sick leave as well as two Community Paramedics, formed part of Donegal ambulance service improvements over the last three years, the Regional Health Forum West was told at their monthly meeting in Galway. 

Improvements have also included new operational bases in Donegal Town and Stranorlar as well as the retrofit of the Letterkenny ambulance base which includes additional five ambulance parking spaces. 

Cllr Ciaran Brogan was told they had also included expanded rosters, the introduction of an emerging threat team 24/7, Hospital Ambulance Liaison Person and a 24/7 tactical shift manager.    

It also included the fleet replacement of 12 Emergency Ambulances to keep in line with the National Ambulance Service fleet replacement programme.

The answer came following a question from Cllr Ciaran Brogan to the forum regarding  improvements and the investment in the ambulance service in the Donegal area in the last three years to improve the level of service.

He was told that the National Ambulance Service West has faced significant challenges since 2020. 

JJ McGowan, Chief Ambulance Officer in the  West said: “With Covid-19, we had to find ways to deal with service demands while striving to keep patients and staff as safe as possible and try to maintain the level of service during Covid staff absences. 

“The National Ambulance Service has been at the forefront of the response to the pandemic 2020. The surging infection rates over this winter assures that Covid-19 is still a threat especially to those with other serious underlying medical conditions and the elderly.

"The National Ambulance Service (NAS) developed a 7-day community testing service in conjunction with CHO1, which commenced in March 2020. 

"The NAS plays an ongoing key role in swabbing. It also played a vital role in the rollout of the vaccination programme both as vaccinators and in the establishment of temporary vaccine clinics." 

Ambulance queueing outside Letterkenny University Hospital in 2022

The list of improvements included: 

*The expansion of the Buncrana roster from 8 to 12 hrs shifts 7 days per week. It is currently operating 10am-10pm previously operating 10am-7pm

*Expansion of Stranorlar roster to now operate 24/7. This encompasses the inclusion of a night crew seven days per week.

*Introduction of emerging threat team operating seven days a week and now responsible for all Covid.

*Introduction of Hospital Ambulance Liaison Person in order to safeguard response capacity by reducing ambulance turnaround times and initiate measures to free up ambulances quicker.

*Change over from a pilot project to inclusion in everyday operations of the Community Paramedic Programme.

*Introduction of the Pathfinder system to enhance hospital avoidance measures which us set to go live on April 3, 2023

*Introduction of and training staff on new Clinical practice guidelines which enhances advance life support and hospital avoidance measures.

*Introduction of 24/7 tactical shift manager to provide governance additional governance inside of normal operating hours and governance outside of these hours.

*Additional 12 Paramedics utilised for the backfill of operational shifts due to Annual leave, Sick leave etc. and 2 Community Paramedics.

Fleet replacement of 12 Emergency Ambulances to keep in line with the National Ambulance Service fleet replacement programme. 

Further investment in the fleet since 2020 includes the replacement of two Intermediate Care Vehicles, three Replacement Response Vehicles, lorries for transportation of major emergency equipment supporting front line service and a Pathfinder vehicle.

There was also a retrofit of the Letterkenny ambulance base and the introduction of an additional five ambulance parking spaces.

A new base built in Donegal Town and Stranorlar which are now fully operational.

An NAS management restructured re-alignment with Slainte Care in Regional Health Area F, which includes Donegal has also taken place.