SIPTU representatives have called on the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, to fund the continuation of Ambulance Emergency Threat Teams which deal with outbreaks of infectious diseases across the State.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Mc Camley, said: “The Union has raised concerns regarding plans by the management of the National Ambulance Service to disband these units as the service has not received direct funding to maintain them.
“The Emergency Threat Teams were originally set up in 2022 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their role has since expanded to deal with a number of infectious diseases. The teams carrying out risk assessments, administer vaccines and provide incident command and control. They play a crucial role in identifying potential threats before they escalate.
“The number of Emergency Medical Technicians within the Emergency Threat Teams has already been reduced from an original 160 staff to only 28, in what has been a continuing undermining of this vital service.”
He added: “The loss of the Ambulance Services Emergency Threat Teams would undermine the State’s ability to deal with outbreaks of infectious diseases by not having a rapid response unit ready and able to deal with emergency situations as they arise. We are calling on the Minister for Health to provide the funding for them as a matter of urgency. In the first instance this is to maintain this service in its present form with a view to strengthening these units in the future.”