20th September 2023
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service continues to face significant challenges as HSC wide industrial action continues today and is due to end at midnight.
On the first day of the Industrial action NIAS saw a reduction in the number of calls into our Emergency Ambulance Control centre and we appreciate the support of the public who have obviously responded to our media pleas to call us only in life-threatening situations. We would ask that this support continues over the final hours of the Industrial Action and also over the coming weekend as we return to normal service levels.
We would again ask that, having made a call to ambulance control, that the public refrain from calling back to check on the arrival time of the ambulance as this will just block the system to others who may be facing a life-threatening situation.
We will continue to prioritise our calls to provide the fastest response to those patients whose clinical need is most urgent. Other less serious conditions will face lengthy delays, or callers may be advised, if clinically appropriate, to self-present at EDs. NIAS has an increased number of clinicians in the Control room who will monitor calls that are waiting for prolonged periods of time and may make calls to check on the condition of the patient to ensure no deterioration has taken place.
We would also like to thank our staff and Trade Unions who are working with us to ensure that patients with life-threatening conditions are responded to in the quickest possible time. We are united in our determination to provide a service to those who need us most during this period of Industrial action.