A delay in opening the new HSE facility in Lissenhall will leave one ambulance serving around 300,000 people in the North County Dublin area.
The new ambulance base cost about €500,000 to build but lacks basic amenities such as chairs and tables meaning staff will be unable to work out of the building. Two ambulance crews of four staff that were due to work from Lissenhall are currently working from St James’ Hospital.
A Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance working out of the Swords fire station is currently trying to cover the area. The HSE has insisted it’s National Ambulance Service is still serving north county Dublin but could not give a date for when the Swords facility will open.
“An area of over 300,000 people is depending on a single DFB ambulance, and it is putting lives at risks. The DFB staff provide a great service, but their numbers are stretched already and it’s ridiculous to expect one ambulance to cater for such a large area,” said Fianna Fail Senator Darragh O’Brien. “I’ve been told that the situation will take around two months to deal with, meaning that just one DFB ambulance will be dedicated for the north Dublin area.”
The Fingal County Council area covers 448 square kilometres, and includes large towns as well as rural areas.