Ambulance service-Interesting reading

Bang Bang

Some areas of this have been mentioned here before, but it now appears there's a lot more to read...
Considering that advanced paramedic training was suspended recently due to "lack" of funds....

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article6396382.ece

From The Sunday TimesMay 31, 2009

HSE orders review of spending in its national ambulance office
A review has begun after the link between Frank McClintock and one of the HSE's suppliers was questioned
Frank McClintock, head of the National Ambulance Service
Mark Tighe
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has ordered an audit of spending in its national ambulance office following a series of revelations by The Sunday Times.

The HSE confirmed on Friday that a review by senior personnel has begun after questions arose about the link between Frank McClintock, head of the National Ambulance Service, and one of the HSE’s suppliers.

Last January this newspaper revealed how McClintock and his wife enjoyed an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas courtesy of Ferno, a company that supplies stretchers for HSE ambulances. A copy of a bill from the October 2008 trip put the cost of accommodation at the four-star Renaissance hotel, where the HSE manager stayed, at $1,258.95 (about €950 at the time).

McClintock has insisted that he won the trip in a competition and at the time the HSE said there was “no issue” with him accepting it. The health service claimed there was “no conflict of interest” as McClintock had no role in deciding whether Ferno equipment was included in HSE ambulances.

The trip, however, seems to contravene HSE ethics rules. The regulations state that staff “may not solicit or accept . . . from any person, firm or association, anything of economic value such as a gift, gratuity or favour which . . . could affect his/her impartiality in dealing with the donor”.

Ferno stretchers are included in all new HSE ambulances. Following a Freedom of Information Act request last month, the HSE released invoices that showed it had paid three bills to Patron, Ferno’s Irish distributors, totalling €107,347.70 in the last three years.

McClintock had written “approved” on two of the invoices, which totalled €70,459.

The first fee of €36,887.50 from 2006 was paid for “pre-delivery inspections” of ambulances in Tougher Business Park in Naas. A fee of €48,291.60 was paid in 2007 with the bulk of the money being paid for rent and security. Another €22,168 was paid last November for the use of a facility in Trim in Co Meath.

A HSE source said there were questions about why the service was paying for suppliers to rent a premises.

When these invoices were released four weeks ago, The Sunday Times asked a series of questions about the tender process. The HSE was also asked whether it still believed the Las Vegas trip was appropriate.

Four weeks later a one-line response was issued: “The HSE is currently reviewing events in relation to procurement processes in the ambulance services and will not be in a position to give further detail (either through the press office or FoI) until this process is completed.”

Sources say the review will examine the HSE’s use of Ferno equipment but will also focus on the purchase of defibrillators.

FoI documents released before the embargo reveal McClintock claimed €64,642 in mileage and subsistence between 2006 and 2007. McClintock, who is from Derry, claimed €27,543 on overnight claims alone in 2007.

His total expense claim in 2006 was €27,140.49. It rose to €37,502 in 2007 before falling to €12,013 last year. The HSE’s rate for overnight stays was previously €140.44, but was reduced to €108.99 earlier this year.




Have your say

regarding mark tighes recent articles, this is only a tiny scratch of how funds are being missed used for individual benefit within the ambulance service. recent procurement of ambulances and equipment warrant closer investigation, who benefited from this certainly not patients.

paramedic, dublin, ireland

Does this money have anything to do with discrepancies found by the high court in engaging external service providers and the contracts surrounding the threatned industrial action last year? Will these 'discrepancies' be investigated also? Someone should be held to account for these 'costs'.

Medic, Dublin,

NO MERCY FOR THIS GUY.€64,772??

WHERE DOES HE DRIVE IN FROM?

DUBAI?
THROUGHOUT OUR MEDIA WE FIND SIMILAR INSTANCES QUIET COMMON THESE DAYS.WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN THE UK.IT THOROUGHLY DISGUSTS ME AND THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTRY WONT TOLERATE THIS ANYMORE.

RAY RICHARDSON, TULLAMORE, IRELAND

Well well well, isn't that just marvelous. What about those in the HSE Ambulance Management driving unmarked cars? To and from work, nice little number if you can get it. I can't see what's the benefit of these cars to Patients? But I can see the benefit to someone who doesn't have to pay for it.

HSE EMTP, Dublin, Ireland

Its a disgrace looking at the susistence paid to that man. I work as a Paramedic in the Eastern Region and earlier this year 2 Paramedics were refused advanced training on grounds of no money. Which is more important, advanced life saving skills available to the public or mileage for Mr McClintocks

HSE Paramedic, Kildare, Ireland

DubMedic

I See management is still favouring the 'hide and it will all hopefully go away' tactic again.

Especially when dealing with the wrong-doings of one of its own.

*Ponders the thought of brown envelopes being passed around under a meeting table somewhere in the NE *


Oh and as well as that remember the issue of the uniforms.. a certain relation of Mr McC was involved too.

Not mentioning the fact that he arrived at a well known event in Ireland in a Private helicopter courtesy of a certain PAS.

He truly is an outstanding man. :rolleyes:

timmywex

They are quite the expenses!!