Excessive Spending on Private Ambulances

Mayo University Hospital expended €4.8 million on private ambulances over the past seven years. This does not constitute value for money. Long-term, economic sense would have seen those funds spent on purchasing and staffing new ambulances.

The National Ambulance Service and the ambulance service provided by Dublin Fire Brigade is the front line of emergency medical and pre-hospital care. They play a vital role in saving lives and transferring patients.

Unfortunately, ambulance services have suffered from years of cuts, under investment, and privatisation of ambulance services.

Over €31 million has been spent on private ambulances by the HSE since 2011. That would have purchased at least 140 fully equipped emergency ambulances.

The objective is a responsive, functioning, world class ambulance service. This requires investment in personnel, vehicles, and technology.

Mayo University Hospital and the State need to ensure that we have a high quality, publicly owned stock of ambulances instead of putting money into the pockets of private companies which does not constitute fiscal prudence or a benefit to the taxpayer.