THE SDLP’s Mark H Durkan has called for progress on the reform of the North’s ambulance service.
He was speaking after questioning Health Minister Robin Swann on the issue in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Mr Durkan asked the Minister if he would be bidding for funding to deliver the NI Ambulance Service Clinical Response Model.
Said the Foyle MLA: “I was disappointed to learn that despite a review into the way our ambulance service operates being carried out in 2017, we are still some way away from the implementation of the clinical response model.
“While the Minister indicated that some progress is being made, we still have much work to do before we will have the ambulance service that people across the North deserve.
“Our current ambulance service work tirelessly to provide people with urgent care and played a huge role in our response to the coronavirus pandemic, but they have been let down by a lack of investment and recruitment.
“Like the rest of our health service, the ambulance service has suffered from years of neglect and mismanagement and we must reverse this if we want to improve outcomes for patients.
“To properly implement the clinical response model we would need to recruit and train 325 paramedics and other staff.
“While this may seem like a huge undertaking it would have the benefits of creating good jobs, a skilled workforce and much improve our ambulance service provision.
“Like the rest of our urgent health service reform, it was disappointing to hear that the clinical response model will also be held up as a result of the DUP’s decision to walk away from the Executive and a multi-year budget.
“For too long people here have suffered due to a lack of political leadership.
“The failure to establish a modern ambulance service that can cater to the needs of communities right across the North could be the difference between life and death for some patients.”
