‘At crisis point’ – Kilkenny TD calls for ‘urgent review’ of ambulance service

A Kilkenny TD has urged her constituency colleagues to back a motion to give greater resources to the country’s ambulance service.

Deputy Kathleen Funchion says the Sinn Féin Dáil motion today would deliver “an urgent review of ambulance resources” to ensure it is properly funded and has enough staff.

The Carlow-Kilkenny TD said: “Sinn Féin’s motion stands up for staff, stands up for patients and supports our Ambulance Service to do their important work.

“It would deliver an urgent review of ambulance resources, to ensure it is properly funded and has enough staff.

“Ambulance workers are burnt out from long, exhausting shifts. We know here in Kilkenny how hard ambulance staff work and invaluable work that they do to care for our community.

“We also know that far too often patients are left waiting far too long for medical help. Here in Kilkenny we all know people who have been left waiting in pain for far too long, causing them huge stress and upset. This is not the fault of ambulance staff, but those who have failed to invest in the services.”

The Kilkenny TD said Ireland emergency services are now “at crisis point”.

She added: “These issues have been going on for far too long. The Government has failed to act time and time again, while this crisis has only worsened. It’s clear that we need an urgent review of ambulance resources.

“We need to expand our ambulance fleet and ensure that rural communities are properly served. We need to increase hospital capacity to avoid patients being left waiting in ambulances.

“Sinn Féin will stand up for our ambulance services to ensure staff and patients get the support and care they need. I am calling on all TDs in Kilkenny to back our motion to stand up for our ambulance services.”