Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, Ulster Unionist Health Spokesperson, has said that action must be taken immediately to make sure that the staff shortages experienced at the weekend by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, which led to delayed ambulance response times, do not reoccur.
The Upper Bann MLA said:
“If a member of the public has to call 999 they need to know that they will have an ambulance responding to their emergency without delay. It is vital for public confidence that actions are taken immediately to make sure that the staff shortages experienced at the weekend do not reoccur.
“Our ambulance crews are already working under a great deal of pressure, so all steps need to be taken to make sure they are not suffering added pressures of working as part of an understaffed team.
“I have written to the Health Minister and the Chief Executive of the Ambulance Service to urge that action be taken now, as we cannot afford an already bad situation to become worse."