Speaking during an Assembly debate on rural out of hours ambulance cover, Michael McGimpsey said: “The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) provides around the clock emergency cover to all areas of Northern Ireland. Like all of our health and social care services, the Ambulance Service is undergoing a period of change, change for the better, to provide a more effective and responsive service to everyone, no matter where they live.
“People are understandably anxious when proposals are made to change the operation of a service they regard highly and rely on for help in often life threatening situations. The NIAS proposals for change are not about cutting services but are about providing a more responsive ambulance service and increasing access to skilled paramedic care for all the people of Northern Ireland.
“Paramedic hours will be increased over the next three years by 60,000 hours. This is vital if the ambulance service is to meet the continued growth in demand for its services.”
Referring to target response times, the Minister said: “I have set challenging response time targets for the Ambulance Service. The eight minute target is a recognised standard across the UK. It is important because the faster we get paramedics to the scene, the greater the likelihood that the patient will have a good outcome. I want to see target response times achieved in both urban and rural areas. That is why I am investing in our ambulance service and why the proposed changes to the profile of the ambulance service are so important.
“The introduction of rapid response vehicles will help the service put more paramedics on the ground and will enable them to reach patients more quickly than the traditional ambulance. This model offers a better chance of saving lives.”
The Minister said he was committed to investing in new vehicles and equipment: “In order to improve services, I recently announced considerable capital investment of almost £100million over the next ten years. This includes £17million over the current Comprehensive Spending Review period for 60 new A&E ambulances, 60 new patient care vehicles and 26 rapid response vehicles.
“Another way of improving emergency response is the introduction of community first responder schemes in rural areas like the Glens of Antrim. First responders are local people living and working in the community who are trained in first aid, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of defibrillators. They will be trained to provide vital life saving care before a paramedic arrives.”
The Minister concluded: “I would like to reassure people living in rural communities that they will continue to have the emergency response they need at all times of the day and night and that they will in no way be disadvantaged as a result of the proposed changes to the ambulance service.”
Notes to Editor:
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