“Failure to address the lack of resources,” TD calls for urgent additional ambulance services for Mayo

Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh has called for the urgent delivery of additional ambulance resources for the county, warning that people must be able to rely on emergency services when they need them most.

The Sinn Féin TD said she is regularly contacted by patients and their families about lengthy ambulance delays, describing the situation as beyond critical and expressing concern about the impact on patient outcomes.

“This is extremely concerning and shows the severe pressure the ambulance service is facing right across the county,” she said.

Deputy Conway-Walsh praised frontline ambulance crews and paramedics for their commitment despite what she described as increasing pressure on the service.

“I want to commend existing ambulance crews and paramedics, who are already fully stretched and working under extreme stress. The problem is not frontline staff, but the failure to address the lack of resources,” she said.

The TD said she has secured commitments from the Minister for Health for additional paramedic posts in Castlebar and Belmullet, two hospital ambulance liaison supervisor posts at Mayo University Hospital, and a new Helicopter Emergency Medical Service for the West and North West.

While welcoming those commitments, Deputy Conway-Walsh said it is now essential that a clear timeline is provided for their delivery.

“These are all welcome, but it is critical that we see a clear timeline for delivery,” she said.

“Communities need certainty that this additional cover will become operational without further delay and that it will make a real difference to the current unsustainable ambulance wait times being experienced across Co. Mayo.”