Pre-hospital emergency care services begin in North Offaly
by Danielle Harney Updated: Friday, 11th September, 2009 9:00am
A "pre-hospital emergency care service" has been launched in North Offaly as a HSE solution to the long-running Ambulance Bay saga.
Existing emergency resources from other ambulance stations around the Midlands will be "dynamically deployed to and dispatched from" a new Emergency Dispatch Point located in Ofalia House in Edenderry.
The service began on Tuesday and according to a HSE statement, it's another step towards sustainable improvements in pre-hospital emergency care services in the Midlands.
Robert Morton, Chief Ambulance Officer for the National Ambulance Service (Midland Division) confirmed that the emergency response vehicle staffed by Paramedics and/or Advanced Paramedics will be more likely to respond from Edenderry than from another location.
"An EDP is a strategically placed location from which to dispatch resources to life-threatening emergencies with the aim being to get help to the patient(s) as quickly as possible. Basic facilities must be provided so as to ensure staff have access to safe and secure shelter along with basic welfare facilities," explained Mr Morton.
The deployment of resources to the new EDP in Edenderry will be driven by staff availability and on analysis "predicting" emergency call-outs, based on detailed scrutiny of previous activity in a given area.
"This method of determining the real time demand for services in any given area reflects international best practice, is evidence based and has been proven in other jurisdictions to be a very effective means of reducing response times to patients suffering a life threatening emergency. Our Ambulance Control Centre has a vital role to play in making this happen," said Mr Morton.
Mr Morton added that managers, supervisors and staff from the National Ambulance Service have worked to achieve savings that could meet any additional refurbishment and running costs associated with this development, while staff have demonstrated their professional commitment by working with management to implement revised working arrangements designed to ensure that patients get improved services.
"In line with our ongoing development plans, we have continually engaged with interested parties over a number of years with a view to bringing about improved services across the Midlands, including the Edenderry area. Many hopes for improved services have been expressed to us and we wish to acknowledge that," he added.
Liam O'Callaghan, Local Health Manager, PCCC in Laois/Offaly, Trudi Rowan, Director of Nursing at Ofalia House and the dedication and co-operation of all of the staff and residents at Ofalia House were all thanked for their support and assistance by Mr Morton.
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