Pandemic Planning

Leo Demidov

Me again.

Anyone aware of HSE/NAS plans for possible collapse of ambulance service as we know it. It seems they plan on using voluntary services as drivers and medics from efr up, also comms etc.

Sounds like b.s. but its completely true. Any opinions.

Presumably they intend to use vols for patient transfer only but I dont have full details. Comms persons would go to ambo control with a bit of training.

Elessar

I'm confused

Hooch

wexfjord wrote: »

Me again.

Anyone aware of HSE/NAS plans for possible collapse of ambulance service as we know it. It seems they plan on using voluntary services as drivers and medics from efr up, also comms etc.

Sounds like b.s. but its completely true. Any opinions.

Presumably they intend to use vols for patient transfer only but I dont have full details. Comms persons would go to ambo control with a bit of training.

Emmmmm......sounds just like the Major Emergency plan......

DubMedic

Yeah that'll be the day, vols with no training what so ever in emergency vehicle driving being used to drive Merc Sprinters.. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

EFR is not the standard for ambulance, Paramedic is.

Forward we go with regulations and standards, not backwards.

Also, evidence to back up your statement please.

.

Leo Demidov

DubMedic wrote: »

Yeah that'll be the day, vols with no training what so ever in emergency vehicle driving being used to drive Merc Sprinters.. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

EFR is not the standard for ambulance, Paramedic is.

Forward we go with regulations and standards, not backwards.

Also, evidence to back up your statement please.

.

It might be crazy but its true.


Who said anything about using NAS rigs, we have a perfectly good 95 tranny.

DubMedic

Which vols would these be?.

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Hooch

DubMedic wrote: »

Yeah that'll be the day, vols with no training what so ever in emergency vehicle driving being used to drive Merc Sprinters.. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

EFR is not the standard for ambulance, Paramedic is.

Forward we go with regulations and standards, not backwards.

Also, evidence to back up your statement please.

.

Last time I checked the vols, in particular civil defence were included in the NAS major emergency plan....regardless of the level of training. Once a major emergency is declared or put on standby....so are the vols.

Also Tramore run an AS1 service with no Paras......and Galway Red Cross have done 16 AS1 calls to backup the NAS in very busy times this year alone.

While of all people i'll be the first to say I can be critical of vols at times for different reasons....they are still part of the plan and do their part very well.

maglite

nice guy always wrote: »

While of all people i'll be the first to say I can be critical of vols at times for different reasons....they are still part of the plan and do their part very well.

And most people have good reasons, we are fixing that one step at a time, EMTs/EFR standardization rather that your generic FAider in ambulances.
Next step is a regulated equipment list and maintenance regime and most of the historic problems are gone.


I'd rather an vol in 20 min rather than a paramedic in an hour for everythign an ambulance should be called for.

Hooch

maglite wrote: »

And most people have good reasons, we are fixing that one step at a time, EMTs/EFR standardization rather that your generic FAider in ambulances.
Next step is a regulated equipment list and maintenance regime and most of the historic problems are gone.


I'd rather an vol in 20 min rather than a paramedic in an hour for everythign an ambulance should be called for.

I wasnt having a go at vols by the way people

maglite

nice guy always wrote: »

I wasnt having a go at vols by the way people

I know, Can I? lol,

No but I have gone out an ambulances that were not mine in my own organization and 2 other, and Some of them have been pure shocking.

I have in the last decade been out with people who couldn't take care of a goldfish, but again due to standardization this is changing. I can now look across to a CD/OMAC person and know if they are an EMT they are up to a certain level, that was not there with the respective in house programs.

Once the equipment gets standardized and regular retraining done. Most of the reasons to against vols are reduced. Again this is a scenario that for sume reason the HSE staff cant use their own fleet or personnel. I is only right to plan for it and hope you dont need it, then need and not have a idea what to do.

Leo Demidov

nice guy always wrote: »

Last time I checked the vols, in particular civil defence were included in the NAS major emergency plan....regardless of the level of training. Once a major emergency is declared or put on standby....so are the vols.

Given that Major Emergency Plan hasnt been activated, its fair to assume that they are getting their house in order in case the proverbial does hit the fan. To be fair, things would have to be pretty bad before NAS would draft in volunteers and equally bad before unions would even consider such a move.

Leo Demidov

DubMedic wrote: »

Which vols would these be?.

.

Circular doesnt specify but I'd imagine anyone that meets the criteria will be considered, regardless of org.

Red Dwarf

wexfjord wrote: »

Me again.

Anyone aware of HSE/NAS plans for possible collapse of ambulance service as we know it. It seems they plan on using voluntary services as drivers and medics from efr up, also comms etc.

If the potential pandemic gets to critical levels so that NAS is in a state of collapse, I don't think the vols will be immune to being also severly hit by the pandemic.

Leo Demidov

Red Dwarf wrote: »

If the potential pandemic gets to critical levels so that NAS is in a state of collapse, I don't think the vols will be immune to being also severly hit by the pandemic.

Who do you suggest then?

Red Dwarf

By all means using vols (with proper procedure and protocols) is one option for NAS. But if the pandemic gets to a point where NAS is on the point of collapse, then the vols will no doubt be hit also and may not be able to provide the necessary backup and also find it extremely difficult to provide crews, especially mid week.

On aside, if vols did provide ambulances/crews for PTS and other non-emergency work, is there a system for renumeration for diesel, equipment etc.?

Leo Demidov

Red Dwarf wrote: »

By all means using vols (with proper procedure and protocols) is one option for NAS. But if the pandemic gets to a point where NAS is on the point of collapse, then the vols will no doubt be hit also and may not be able to provide the necessary backup and also find it extremely difficult to provide crews, especially mid week.

On aside, if vols did provide ambulances/crews for PTS and other non-emergency work, is there a system for renumeration for diesel, equipment etc.?

At the best of times you would find it difficult to provide and crew more than a few ambulances nationally from vol orgs, so point taken. The scenario where this would likely be implemented would be nightmarish to say the least, any assistance that could be provided could serve only to help in a bad situation.

Taking into consideration the reservation that many on here have about vols, I do hope that the right people would be selected, based on their skills and not just their availability.

To your last question, expenses would be paid, along with relevant PPE and some training.

I presume similar arrangements are being made with army as they would be in a far better position to provide personnel at short notice, particularly drivers and possibly some crewed ambulances (as opposed to crude).

DubMedic

wexfjord wrote: »

At the best of times you would find it difficult to provide and crew more than a few ambulances nationally from vol orgs, so point taken. The scenario where this would likely be implemented would be nightmarish to say the least.

Taking into consideration the reservation that many on here have about vols, I do hope that the right people would be selected, based on their skills and not just their availability.

I presume similar arrangements are being made with army as they would be in a far better position to provide personnel at short notice, particularly drivers and possibly some crewed ambulances.

Fair enough that there are a fair few from the voluntaries who are in it for patient care, and not the 'my x is better than your y because it has z' crap. It has the potential to work as you say.. provided the right people are chosen.

Let's not forget Private ambos here too.. they are well equipped to respond.

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Leo Demidov

DubMedic wrote: »

Let's not forget Private ambos here too.. they are well equipped to respond.

Good job I'm not running the show, they never featured in my armageddon planning.