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HSE to meet groups on ambulance changes
By JOE LEOGUE
Thursday December 15 2011
INNOVATION Minister Sean Sherlock has confirmed late Wednesday evening (as The Corkman was going to press) that the HSE is to meet local Dr Bertie Daly and members of a Youghal-based protest group to discuss proposed changes to the Cork ambulance service with a view to ‘working out, compromising and engaging with people on their proposals.’
“The view amongst doctors on the ground was that this was being presented as a done deal, as if their concerns are not being listened to.
“As a Minister, my view is that if there are changes it should be about bringing people with you, to work towards engagement with a progress reporting mechanism coming back to local representatives,” he said. CORK people have been called upon to volunteer to respond to heart attacks within eight minutes — so the Health Service Executive can reach its targets for responding to cardiac incidents.
At a press conference on changes to the ambulance service in Cork and Kerry last Monday, the National Ambulance Service confirmed that members of the public trained to use defibrillators are counted as ‘first responders’ under the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) evaluation system.
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Speaking in response to the statement by Sean Sherlock yesterday asking for the postponing of the withdrawal of ambulance services in Youghal and elsewhere Cllr Michelle Hennessy has reacted with anger.
She responds “The position on the retention of our ambulance services in Youghal is not up for postponement. We in Youghal want the services kept as they are. The idea that some people are working away in the background needs to be brought out into the open. The people making the decision need to be in no doubt that the retention of the services is what the public want.
Sean Sherlock has on a number of occasions since he was elected not used his position in the cabinet to further the fight for ambulance services and the front line health services. He has sheepishly voted against motions under the protection of the whip system which directly were in favour of keeping our ambulance service. This type of politics is what people are sick of. What we want from our elected reps is a clear and consistent position on what they support. You can’t be appalled on one day and then vote with the government and HSE who are directly implementing the cuts the next.
I would also like to call on the Cllrs who are members of the government parties to put it up to their masters. This issue is only the beginning of what this government are planning to cut in the future and the grass root members need to make this a red line issue and stand up for their communities. The protest this Saturday is another way of showing that Youghal and its hinterland is very serious about the retention of its existing services and I am calling on everybody to turn up and support the event”
Cork County and Youghal Town Councillor Michelle Hennessy (SF)
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