Ambulance spend is queried

SLIGO University Hospital spent nearly €3 Million on private ambulances over the past seven years.

Councillor Chris MacManus claimed the spending on hiring a private ambulance service did not make sense or represent value for the taxpayer.

He said: “SUH, Saolta and the HSE should be purchasing and staffing new ambulances which would make more economic sense in the long run.

“The money spent on private ambulance services since 2011 would have bought at least 140 fully equipped emergency ambulances.

“The National Ambulance Service is the front line of emergency medical and pre-hospital care and they play a vital role in saving lives and transferring patients.

“Unfortunately, ambulance services have suffered from years of cuts, underinvestment, and privatisation of ambulance services with over €31 million being spent on private ambulances by the HSE since 2011.

“In order to have a responsive, functioning, world class ambulance service then you must invest in personnel, vehicles, and technology instead of diverting funding to private interests.

“Sligo University Hospital and the State need to ensure that we have a high quality, publicly owned stock of ambulances instead of putting money into the pockets of private companies which does not constitute fiscal prudence or a benefit to the taxpayer.”