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Comments

  • #62
    wendell borton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,335 ✭✭✭wendell borton


    Bambi wrote: »
    a lot of the reporting on ambulance coverage does'nt really make sense, if you live out in the under populated arse end of nowhere then you're not going to get an ambulance out to you within 20 minutes

    If you live in the arse end of nowhere in rural England or Scotland, which have much lower population densities than here, you can get one.


  • #63
    mad muffin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭mad muffin


    The story of Ireland. Reads like a drunken degenerate gambler…


  • #64
    Santa Cruz
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,126 ✭✭✭Santa Cruz


    Singer73 wrote: »
    I was disgusted by this. And yer man with his 'best service in the world'? Get a grip fella. Name and shame. There is most probably a union involved too, for
    Protection...
    We're probably the "best small country in the world to get sick in and need and ambulance"


  • #65
    Turtwig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    Thought it was a very poor documentary creeping from the seams with bias. There are undoubtedly issues with first responders coverage but I felt the documentary had a narrative it wanted to spin instead of objectively assessing the standard of our ambulance service and present this picture to the viewer.


  • #66
    howamidifferent
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,819 ✭✭✭howamidifferent


    Jernal wrote: »
    Thought it was a very poor documentary creeping from the seams with bias. There are undoubtedly issues with first responders coverage but I felt the documentary had a narrative it wanted to spin instead of objectively assessing the standard of our ambulance service and present this picture to the viewer.

    That you Martin?


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  • #67
    jimd2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 789 ✭✭✭jimd2


    vicwatson wrote: »
    What county is Martin Dunne from anyone know?

    Originally from Trim Co. Meath afaik.

    Including the uniforms in the "best in the world" comments showed him up in pretty bad light.


  • #68
    Busted Flat.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,003 ✭✭✭Busted Flat.


    jimd2 wrote: »
    Originally from Trim Co. Meath afaik.

    Including the uniforms in the "best in the world" comments showed him up in pretty bad light.

    The only way for him is to be promoted, the only way is up if you make a mistake in the HSE, fook peoples lives. I suppose the first response unit is in Donegal tonight instead of being outside the the call center where its needed.
    Simple question, how much fuel does it take for regular journeys like that. Then the people in charge say they are short of resource's. Is this sort of travel taken into account in benefit in kind tax, if so how much do these guys owe in back taxes. Or am I asking a stupid question.


  • #69
    Turtwig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    You are possibly asking the wrong question. My understanding is the vehicle in Donegal is on call in Donegal. It doesn't have to be in a call center. I'd love to know how expenses and like are broken down but I don't think the vehicles are being abused as the program painted. One also needs to consider that any new system or alterations will have growing pains and chinks. The extent of misappropriation is important.


  • #70
    Busted Flat.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,003 ✭✭✭Busted Flat.


    Jernal wrote: »
    You are possibly asking the wrong question. My understanding is the vehicle in Donegal is on call in Donegal. It doesn't have to be in a call center. I'd love to know how expenses and like are broken down but I don't think the vehicles are being abused as the program painted. One also needs to consider that any new system or alterations will have growing pains and chinks. The extent of misappropriation is important.

    Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't the program state that the driver worked in Limerick and lived in Donegal.


  • #71
    Turtwig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    Something like that. His vehicle is still an asset in whatever area it's in. So he can be called on emergency in Donegal.


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  • #72
    mikehunts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 371 ✭✭mikehunts


    From what Dunne said on the radio this morning, if the driver goes home to Donegal he will be on call up there.


  • #73
    Busted Flat.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,003 ✭✭✭Busted Flat.


    Jernal wrote: »
    Something like that. His vehicle is still an asset in whatever area it's in. So he can be called on emergency in Donegal.

    Apologist come out when the fiddle is exposed.


  • #74
    emo72
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,540 ✭✭✭emo72


    Busted Flat. wrote: »
    Apologist come out when the fiddle is exposed.

    it does sound like "cover your ass" bollixology to be honest. we are sceptical


  • #75
    crackcrack30
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,165 ✭✭✭crackcrack30


    mikehunts wrote: »
    From what Dunne said on the radio this morning, if the driver goes home to Donegal he will be on call up there.


    Does that mean that if they are on call 365 days & and paid on call have vehicle for on call 365 days ect ect........ but decide to have a glass of wine or a pint & get a call ... should they go ,stay or abstain??


    If you are on call , paid on call and provided with equipment to be on call you should be always available.......(a complete lie)


  • #76
    Busted Flat.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,003 ✭✭✭Busted Flat.


    mikehunts wrote: »
    From what Dunne said on the radio this morning, if the driver goes home to Donegal he will be on call up there.

    That was not mentioned in last nights program. Neither when they were parked outside these para!!! homes at Christmas.


  • #77
    Turtwig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    emo72 wrote: »
    it does sound like "cover your ass" bollixology to be honest. we are sceptical

    Not really. I assumed it while watching the program. Tellingly, they only gave a third hand vague account of a controller when saying the vehicles were unavailable. Surely they could have got something concrete. Stay in Donegal and see if he's ever deployed there. Shouldn't be too hard. Could have asked the neighbors. They'd know. They also provided no baseline in the statistics on the number of calls responded to by these vehicles. So we have no idea whether they're being under utilised or stretched to breaking point. In fact all we know is vague stuff about fuel allowances, lovely journalist fodder, but it's too vague to tell us anything concrete. So while the impression the documentary provides is of a **** first response service. The documentary doesn't actually provide anything to concrete support it being ****e or excellent. We're left in a vague imprecise darkness.


  • #78
    crackcrack30
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,165 ✭✭✭crackcrack30


    Jernal wrote: »
    Not really. I assumed it while watching the program. Tellingly, they only gave a third hand vague account of a controller when saying the vehicles were unavailable. Surely they could have got something concrete. Stay in Donegal and see if he's ever deployed there. Shouldn't be too hard. Could have asked the neighbors. They'd know. They also provided no baseline in the statistics on the number of calls responded to by these vehicles. So we have no idea whether they're being under utilised or stretched to breaking point. In fact all we know is vague stuff about fuel allowances, lovely journalist fodder, but it's too vague to tell us anything concrete. So while the impression the documentary provides is of a **** first response service. The documentary doesn't actually provide anything to concrete support it being ****e or excellent. We're left in a vague imprecise darkness.


    What documentary were you watching jernal?


  • #79
    ProfessorPlum
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,835 ✭✭✭ProfessorPlum


    Jernal wrote: »
    Not really. I assumed it while watching the program. Tellingly, they only gave a third hand vague account of a controller when saying the vehicles were unavailable. Surely they could have got something concrete. Stay in Donegal and see if he's ever deployed there. Shouldn't be too hard. Could have asked the neighbors. They'd know. They also provided no baseline in the statistics on the number of calls responded to by these vehicles. So we have no idea whether they're being under utilised or stretched to breaking point. In fact all we know is vague stuff about fuel allowances, lovely journalist fodder, but it's too vague to tell us anything concrete. So while the impression the documentary provides is of a **** first response service. The documentary doesn't actually provide anything to concrete support it being ****e or excellent. We're left in a vague imprecise darkness.

    I 'vaguely' remember the statistic that the managers' first responce vehicles were called on average once every 3 weeks. I'd say that's an under utilisation.
    I also heard this morning that Mr Dunne himself was on call while he was on the radio. What in gods name is the guy who is supposed to manage doing being a first responder - that is also a massive under utilisation. There are hundreds of paramedics that can do that job, and only 1 that can be in charge. So be in charge Mr Dunne. It's like sending Enda to deliver the post if they're short a postman. Major overhaul needed.


  • #80
    Busted Flat.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,003 ✭✭✭Busted Flat.


    Jernal wrote: »
    Not really. I assumed it while watching the program. Tellingly, they only gave a third hand vague account of a controller when saying the vehicles were unavailable. Surely they could have got something concrete. Stay in Donegal and see if he's ever deployed there. Shouldn't be too hard. Could have asked the neighbors. They'd know. They also provided no baseline in the statistics on the number of calls responded to by these vehicles. So we have no idea whether they're being under utilised or stretched to breaking point. In fact all we know is vague stuff about fuel allowances, lovely journalist fodder, but it's too vague to tell us anything concrete. So while the impression the documentary provides is of a **** first response service. The documentary doesn't actually provide anything to concrete support it being ****e or excellent. We're left in a vague imprecise darkness.

    Open your eyes, a guy works in Limerick and lives in Donegal, gets company car and gets free fuel to go to work and back, is there tax liabilities.
    On another point when this guy went home for the weekend on his free car and fuel, it would be helpful to know did the emergency service know he was available with his free car to attend to an incident. There has to be some sort of a record at head office. Something like there is one of our guys heading home with a €100.000 emergency first response unit and will be available in the north west for the next 3 days. Questions need to be answered. Peoples lives are at risk while these guys travel for free.


  • #81
    NonBeliever14
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51 ✭✭NonBeliever14


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057171652&page=2


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  • #82
    Turtwig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    ProfessorPlum wrote: »
    I 'vaguely' remember the statistic that the managers' first responce vehicles were called on average once every 3 weeks. I'd say that's an under utilisation.
    I also heard this morning that Mr Dunne himself was on call while he was on the radio. What in gods name is the guy who is supposed to manage doing being a first responder - that is also a massive under utilisation. There are hundreds of paramedics that can do that job, and only 1 that can be in charge. So be in charge Mr Dunne. It's like sending Enda to deliver the post if they're short a postman. Major overhaul needed.

    But we have no baseline. So we don't know whether this 3 weeks is efficient or inefficient waste. You're making an assumption with no knowledge of the actual service parameters. Fair point on Mr dune, on call while being head honcho is odd. I suppose if you got the skills we must use them, but that seems to indicate a resource strain. But then maybe every ambulance service does this. Maybe the equivalent in the UK is also on call while talking to press.

    One thing to clarify though, was this morning Ireland? In that he mentioned he was out on call before the prime time shows broadcast. I'd love to know if he was on call while live on air. Just like to rule out misunderstanding first. As as you said it does seem odd.


  • #83
    Turtwig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    Busted Flat. wrote: »
    Open your eyes, a guy works in Limerick and lives in Donegal, gets company car and gets free fuel to go to work and back, is there tax liabilities.
    On another point when this guy went home for the weekend on his free car and fuel, it would be helpful to know did the emergency service know he was available with his free car to attend to an incident. There has to be some sort of a record at head office. Something like there is one of our guys heading home with a €100.000 emergency first response unit and will be available in the north west for the next 3 days. Questions need to be answered. Peoples lives are at risk while these guys travel for free.

    All vehicles location are known at all times are they not?

    We don't know the breakdown of what benefits, if any, these people get. We definitely need to know. But like I said the explanation of the fuel exploiting was vague.


  • #84
    jimd2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 789 ✭✭✭jimd2


    Jernal wrote: »
    Something like that. His vehicle is still an asset in whatever area it's in. So he can be called on emergency in Donegal.

    But is it part of an organised programme where location is determined by location/ population demographics etc and not randomly depending on where these employees live?

    Martin Dunne mentioned on the radio that he had been on call himself the night before. Commendable in one sense in that he is prepared to work as required but worrying in another sense in that his work could be at a low enough level and not doing the leadership / analytical / planning required in an organisation like the ambulance service. I wonder is he working very hard at one level but not achieving at another level, for example I wonder has he made a good enough case for resources. Also was he sold a pup in buying those vehicles when additional actual ambulances were what was needed?

    These are issues that can be life or death....massively important.


  • #85
    NonBeliever14
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51 ✭✭NonBeliever14


    what happens in other ambulance services?

    Do other ambulance services use ORVs and RRVs?

    NAS staff prefer their Managers to be "qualified" in the same way that AGS or Fire Services like (AGS) or would like (FS). In Ireland, you PHECC are moving to a model of registration (similar to the HCPC in the UK) where you cannot be "qualified" unless you can demonstrate you "practice". In NAS, the only realistic option for Officers (Managers) to do this is on a voluntary basis out of hours.

    Emergency calls are only one reason a Manager might be called out. The list can be viewed on the relevant procedure on the HSE website.


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