Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, has welcomed the government’s backing for his motion to provide urgent support to the National Ambulance Service.

The motion was debated in the Dáil last night and would provide much-needed support to ensure ambulance staff have the resources they need to do their jobs safely and reduce waiting times for patients.

Speaking this morning, Teachta Cullinane said:

“I welcome that the government backed my motion to support the National Ambulance Service. Our ambulance services are under huge pressure and the government has failed to act for far too long.

“My motion has the solutions necessary to put in place much-needed supports to ensure the ambulance service is fit for purpose.

“Paramedics, dispatchers, and workers across the Ambulance Service and the Emergency Operations Centre do an incredible job but many are feeling exhausted and burnt out due to how poorly the services are resourced. Patients are waiting far too long when they make an emergency call for urgent help.

“I welcome that the government has backed my motion. This is an important first step to delivering these solutions for our ambulance services, staff and patients. It is vital that the government follows this through with action.

“Our ambulance services are at crisis point and need action, not empty gestures or soundbites from government.

“I will continue to work with the government on this issue to ensure that the solutions are delivered to make a real change to the lives of healthcare staff and patients.

“Sinn Féin in government would deliver the solutions required to ensure much-needed change is achieved. We would deliver an Irish national health service which is fit for purpose and ensures highly quality and timely healthcare for patients.”