Private ambulance to respond to nightclubs in Galway

Topper7

Just came accross this on the internet. Good or bad idea? I thinks its good as it can free up HSE to get to other calls?http://www.independent.ie/national-news/private-ambulance-to-cater-for-late-drinkers-3220211.html

ratracer

But is it the start of a very slippery slope to privatisation of services? Great for the profits of the private service providers, they certainly won't make a loss on it.

Elessar

Private ambulances have been servicing Galway on and off for years. Nothing new here. It's only for nightclubs anyway. Many clubs hire medical personnel on busy nights as is. And it's funded directly by the clubs. Anything that increases access to emergency care is a good idea in my book.

Topper7

Ya medicall do 999 work when the HSE are busy/short staffed I think? But ya I think anything that means less pain/discomfort for a patient is a good thing. Only thing is if these nightclubs ring Cara before dialling 999, whats next?

Mycroft H

OMAC, I think had something similar going in maynooth a while back

Delancey

Despite all the ideals behind it I suspect it will become little more than a glorified taxi to A+E.

999nobody

Delancey wrote: »

Despite all the ideals behind it I suspect it will become little more than a glorified taxi to A+E.

Nope, they'll end up using NAS as their taxi. That way they earn money from the pubs but use NAS for free.

Parafox

The owner of this company also owns the IATI.
He's struggeling to get placements for his students so this could be a back door way of getting ambulance placements for his trainee EMT's, that way he pays nobody as the placements are done at students own expence.
What qualifications do these crews have?

Thepredator

Parafox wrote: »

The owner of this company also owns the IATI.
He's struggeling to get placements for his students so this could be a back door way of getting ambulance placements for his trainee EMT's, that way he pays nobody as the placements are done at students own expence.
What qualifications do these crews have?

Students are supernumerary while on placement and could not be used to crew vehicles or provide medical assistance, unless in the company of a qualified practitioner (I presume these would be paid). This company wouldn't be the first to try this sort of thing. A lot of clubs in Dublin used to pay for medics on busy nights.

bill buchanan

I don't think this is anything new and I don't see anything wrong with it.

ratracer

Looks like the publicans ain't playing ball with this. As they rightly say, why should they pay for it? Can't post the link but its on todays Galway independent

Medic475

Parafox wrote: »

What qualifications do these crews have?

They're both Paramedics. The third man is an EMT (Student or Practitioner, I'm not sure).