Private ambulances to get HSE NAS Radios

Tango Alpha 51

Allegedly upto 30 private ambulances are to be equipped with HSE National Ambulance Service radio systems so they can be allocated to calls.:mad::mad::mad: They are also to be given call signs by the HSE NAS.

If we were properly funded in the first place, there would be no need for this. Our "boss" needs to remember that he doesn't work for the privates

sgthighway

The fact is if they are doing 999 calls they do need proper communications with the HSE for the benifit of the patient.
Do any regions outside the West have a Private Company doing 999 calls?

Sully

Whats the problem exactly? :S

drill

sgthighway wrote: »

The fact is if they are doing 999 calls they do need proper communications with the HSE for the benifit of the patient.
Do any regions outside the West have a Private Company doing 999 calls?

In HSE Eastern all ambulance calls are done by HSE staff.

Ian Beale

Isn't more ambulances on the road a good thing regardless if there hse or private?

sgthighway

Ian Beale wrote: »

Isn't more ambulances on the road a good thing regardless if there hse or private?

I'd prefer HSE. I would not mind Private Ambulances if it was Regulated.

Tango Alpha 51

sgthighway wrote: »

The fact is if they are doing 999 calls they do need proper communications with the HSE for the benifit of the patient.
Do any regions outside the West have a Private Company doing 999 calls?

But they shouldn't be doing 999 calls. That is what the statutory service is for. The statutory svce should have been properly funded then the privates wouldn't have been covering 999 calls. All this is, is a cheap way for the HSE/Government to put "extra" ambulances on the road without increased funding.

Elessar

And what is wrong with that? The government doesn't have funds. This way, the government won't have to spend the millions it doesn't have to put more HSE ambulances on the road. Instead, like it always has in certain parts of the country, it pays a private company per call, when and where statutory services are not available.

As long as the crew attending are PHECC Paramedic, from PHECC registered and HSE approved providers, what difference does it make who does it?

sgthighway

Elessar wrote: »

As long as the crew attending are PHECC Paramedic, from PHECC registered and HSE approved providers, what difference does it make who does it?

This is where the problem is. AFAIK they are not all PHECC Registered Paramedics.

Elessar

You're right. However, they do send Paramedics only where available on AS1 calls. There is a batch of EMTs from the privates undergoing Paramedic training atm aswell. On top of that I believe PHECC will be soon releasing a directive which states who can transport what. Certainly it's going to be Paramedic for AS1. That will have to be adhered to.

So once there are Paramedics, from a registered provider, under HSE contract, what difference does it make who does it?

Hooch

sgthighway wrote: »

This is where the problem is. AFAIK they are not all PHECC Registered Paramedics.

They have to be PHECC registered Paramedics on AS1 ambos. All PCRs have to be filled out with PIN number. The private company would loose their contract if they ran an AS1 ambulance with less than two PHECC registered Paramedics.

On the Private public debate - This is, and always will be a touchy subject. To be fair to buzz nobody would like another company coming in and taking some of their work (which is what this is anyway you look at it). I wouldnt want a private Garda force....would you??

Now to be fair to the privates they are just filling the gap where NAS cannot at present, but they are trying with recruitment full and another intake starting in October in Ballinasloe. The privates who provide AS1 service are up to scratch with training and one service have received two A/P acreditions lately. The issue I have is that a state body shouldnt have to get private ambulances to do cover for 999 calls. This, however, is changing slowely but surely and PHECC are about to roll out the new treatment plan for PTS shortly.

On the radios, as long as they are accounted for once the AS1 service is taken from the Privates I see no problem. It they are responding to calls they must have comms.

Hooch

Elessar wrote: »

You're right. However, they do send Paramedics only where available on AS1 calls. There is a batch of EMTs from the privates undergoing Paramedic training atm aswell. On top of that I believe PHECC will be soon releasing a directive which states who can transport what. Certainly it's going to be Paramedic for AS1. That will have to be adhered to.

So once there is at least a Paramedic, from a registered provider, under HSE contract, what difference does it make who does it?

Beat me too it!!:D

It is presently Paramedic for AS1 and will stay that way once the draft is finished.

sgthighway

Elessar wrote: »

is a batch of EMTs from the privates undergoing Paramedic training atm aswell.

That sounds good. Where are they doing the training? I didn't know a non HSE or DFB person could train to be a Paramedic here.

Sully

I always like to point out that the local ambulance service based in Tramore (which is a big town) would be a lot quicker attending calls then the HSE based in Waterford. The local mind is the Order of Malta (a somewhat more "glossed" one compared to the average - with a cardiac unit and two amublances) but they offer an excellent service and should be allowed take local calls that come in via 999 (they do for cardiac IIRC).

boomer_ie

Elessar wrote: »

There is a batch of EMTs from the privates undergoing Paramedic training atm aswell.

Emm where?

NATS to my knowledge wont take private students as they are block booked with HSE classes.

Elessar

sgthighway wrote: »

That sounds good. Where are they doing the training? I didn't know a non HSE or DFB person could train to be a Paramedic here.

EDIT: I don't have enough information to comment. All I know is someone I know well is doing it. I will post more info as I get it.

Hooch

boomer_ie wrote: »

Emm where?

NATS to my knowledge wont take private students as they are block booked with HSE classes.

Medicall are running EMT courses now. PHECC registered institute with about two months.

*on an aside NATS is now NASC (National Ambulance service college). Has been for the last year

boomer_ie

nice guy always wrote: »

Medicall are running EMT courses now. PHECC registered institute with about two months.

*on an aside NATS is now NASC (National Ambulance service college). Has been for the last year

Thats right they are running EMT courses but thats not recognition to teach Paramedic course or be a Trainee Paramedic.

I have always known it as NATS, hard to get out of the habit

Hooch

boomer_ie wrote: »

Thats right they are running EMT courses but thats not recognition to teach Paramedic course or be a Trainee Paramedic.

I have always known it as NATS, hard to get out of the habit

Sorry I thought it was EMT ye were discussing, I really should read the posts!

NASC and the O Brien Institute are the only PHECC recognised training centres for Paramedic. IATI do Paramedic up-skilling (and watch this space....they might be instructing Paramedic level next year;))

timmywex

To be honest its a bit crazy.

Compare it to private security firms being given garda radios. Same scenario effectively

Paulzx

The 999 ambulance service should be provided by the statutory services. End of.

The problem is that the HSE is quite possibly the most dysfunctional organisation to ever exist in this country. This feeds down into the National Ambulance Service management who are as incompetent as their senior brethern in the HSE. I wouldn't allow most of these people manage an under 8 football team let alone be responsible for billions of euro of our money.

The NAS service is nowhere near being a national service when local rules and practices are completely different everywhere. We have come out of a period where money was thrown everywhere by central government but the ambulance service was run down to such an extent in some areas that privates seem to be the only option.

It is an extremely short sighted view to think that privates are the answer. Eventually when the service is run down so much that the HSE have no proper ambulance capability the privates will be free the charge what they want. Rates of pay will also be crap. These companies will also not operate a service at huge cost to themselves in the same way in which the DFB are stupidly doing so.

Privatise, privatise, privatise. Thats the mantra at the moment. Sure its a great idea. Look where the private banking sector has brought us. Oh no wait!!. Maybe its not such a good idea after all.

Both private and public sector have a role to play. Frontline emergency services should be the role of the public bodies along with the various voluntry bodies that are integrated into the system

DubMedic

PAS are getting too big for their boots tbh.

Cheers Mr McC for starting this BS in the first place.

.

jake59

drill wrote: »

In HSE Eastern all ambulance calls are done by HSE staff.

All? DFB perhaps would disagree. DFB paramedics take on the majority of 999 ambulance calls in the Dublin area. There would be a huge difference in service if the likes of Lifeline or Medicall took on their job. Remember Lifeline were the company who fraudulently used PHECC numbers of DFB paramedics on cases in the west where these members had never worked. I dunno..

maglite

Area arround the curragh? Tramore?

drill

jake59 wrote:

All? DFB perhaps would disagree.

Should have been clearer my point was in relation to Privates:(

maglite wrote: »

Area arround the curragh? Tramore?

Ok forgot the curragh as for tramore its south easterns area

Zuppy

Just my 2 cent worth but,

I don't work in the ambulance service and never have in this country. I have seen and looked at a few other systems but to my knowledge the private system or a dual system has rarely worked for the emergency/ frontline service.

Services like the Emergency Services and critical life services such as power and water and defence should NEVER be privatised to any degree. We do not need dependence on profit driven companies.

That is why I pay tax, it is to receive a service. Which I point out I am not really getting.

So should the PAS be tied in to the Ambulance service? No. But if your worried about major incidents, tie them to the Civil Defence or the RDF net. If its big and its trouble then they will be on the street too.

Tango Alpha 51

Paulzx wrote: »

The 999 ambulance service should be provided by the statutory services. End of.

Both private and public sector have a role to play. Frontline emergency services should be the role of the public bodies along with the various voluntry bodies that are integrated into the system

+1!!!.