‘Clapped out’ ambulances putting lives at risk
The West National Ambulance Service was endangering the lives of patients by transporting them in a fleet of “clapped out” vehicles, with two thirds of them negotiating the difficult roads of Galway and the entire northwest with over 300,000km on the clock.
That was the claim by a city councillor after figures presented at this week’s Regional Health Forum West meeting revealed that 68 out of 96 ambulances had at least 322,000 clocked up. Some 16 ambulances had more than 644,000km clocked up; 23 ambulances had more than 483,000km and 29 had over 322,000km.
There were 31 vehicles currently in the fleet that were at least eight years old.
The Garda Siochána decommissions vehicles once they reach 250,000km.
Councillor Padraig Conneely, who tabled the query, said he was amazed to learn about the poor condition of the ambulance fleet.
“Here you have a sick old lady being put in a vehicle with 400,000 miles on it and taking her through the Maam Valley to get to hospital, driving on the mountainy and bad roads of Connemara – no wonder these vehicles are breaking down all over the place,” he fumed.
“I don’t know if a patient would be aware they’re getting into a vehicle with 400,000 miles on it. It could not be safe; it could not be roadworthy. It must be costing a fortune every week keeping them running.”
In a written reply, Paudie O’Riordan, area operations manager of the West National Ambulance Service, said €18m would be invested to replace vehicles in 2016. A total of 50 new ambulances would be purchase while 35 would be given new engines.
“By the end of 2016 the oldest vehicles in the west area will be 2011 registrations – 16 from a fleet of 96.”
For more on this story, see the Connacht Tribune.