Ambulance services need urgent support – Clarke

Sinn Féin TD for Longford Westmeath Sorca Clarke has called on TDs to support the ambulance service and back her party’s motion in the Dáil this week.

The motion would deliver an urgent review of ambulance resources, to ensure they are properly funded and have enough staff.

Teachta Clarke said: “Sinn Féin’s motion stands up for staff, stands up for patients and supports our ambulance service to do their important work.

“Ambulance workers are burnt out from long, exhausting shifts. We know here in Longford Westmeath how hard ambulance staff work and the 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 Longford Westmeath, 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. It’s clear that emergency services are at crisis point.

“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 Longford Westmeath to back our motion to stand up for our ambulance services.”