Written answer
Ambulance Service
The Minister said community paramedics support care outside hospitals, may undertake frontline duties, and requested the HSE provide further information on their working conditions.
1100. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health her views on concerns regarding the conditions of community paramedics in the national ambulance service (details supplied). [64195/26]
Comment on this
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) is committed to delivering patient-centred care through a range of patient care models. The overall objective of community based care, including community paramedicine, is to reduce unnecessary hospital attendances by treating patients safely and effectively in their own home or local community setting where this is deemed clinically appropriate.
NAS Community Paramedics operate within the broader clinical practice framework and may, depending on service requirements, participate in a range of operational duties, including that of frontline emergency response.
I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly in the matter with any further pertinent information it may have.