Fresh claims have been made about gaps in ambulance cover in Clare. Reports say there was just one ambulance on call in Ennis on Saturday night, with none in West Clare for several hours.
A report in today's Irish Independent says just one ambulance was in place to cover the 40,000 people living in Ennis and its environs on Saturday night. There were also issues in West Clare, where only one paramedic was reportedly available for duty in Kilrush. As a result, a decision was taken to take an advanced paramedic from a Rapid Response vehicle, which is based in Ennis and covers the entire county. This meant there was no rapid response vehicle in operation either. This is the latest in a long-running series of issues with local ambulance services. Last week, Limerick City and East Limerick was left with just one ambulance on Leaving Cert results night, while in Clare in July ambulances and rapid response vehicles were unavailable for dozens of shifts. Staff have said they could consider industrial action if their concerns are not addressed. Kilrush Councillor Ian Lynch and Ennistymon-based Senator Martin Conway outlined their concerns in relation to the issue.
