Mayo ambulance base left without crew seven times in past two months - HSE

The ambulance base in Castlebar was left without a crew at base seven times in the past two months.

The information has been furbished to Councillor Michael Kilcoyne at today's meeting of the HSE West Forum.

In response to concerns raised in respect of the matter, JJ McGowan, chief ambulance officer for the western region, stated: "It would require a thorough and time-intensive review to examine each day over a two-month period to identify how many times the base was without an ambulance crew.

"While periods without a crew at base is at times inevitable due to fluctuations in demand, it is not indicative of the base's overall efficiency or the quality of service provided to the community.

"During the last two months, we experienced seven instances where a single shift could not be fully staffed, known as 'single dropped shifts'.

"On four occasions, the solo rostered staff member was an advanced paramedic (AP) who was put onto a rapid response vehicle (RRV) to ensure coverage.

"For the remaining three instances, we paired the solo rostered staff member with another solo shift from a nearby area to optimise our resources and maintain a responsive service.

"Whenever a shift drops, typically due to short-notice sick leave or unforeseen circumstances, every effort is made to cover these shifts.

"When coverage isn’t immediately available, alternative arrangements—such as those described above—are promptly implemented to ensure continued service in the region."