A newly-appointed Stormont Minister, Arlene Foster has given her backing to the relocation of some of the A & E ambulance fleet which is based at the Erne Hospital station being redeployed to two rural outcentres, Lisnaskea and Fintona. As late as the 1980's, Lisnaskea had its own permanently-based A & E ambulance.
"I would be quite content', Mrs Foster said, " if, by relocating to rural parts of the county, the crews will be able to cover a bigger area more quickly. If it means that crews are going to be distributed at a quicker rate in a rural community answering road traffic accident call-outs, and they are much closer to the scene, then that would be a good thing. I look forward to hearing more about it".
There are five Accident & Emergency vehicles based at the Erne, of which two and their emergency crews are on 24/7 call, and there is roughly the same number of passenger-carrying vehicles. In all, some 30 personnel are based at the Erne Ambulance Station.
A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Ambulancer Service said it had identified a number of redeployment points across the North where vehicles would be placed to facilitate a speedy response to people placing an emergency call.
"These deployment points will be staffed by maing better use of current resources", he went on. "Coupled with the increased use of rapid response vehicles, NIAS is confident that these measures will improve response times and enhance the quality of care provided to the patient. NIAS will continue to work with its partners in the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety, and with Health and Social Care Trusts to identify gaps in cover throughout the Province in an effort to secure the funding required to deliver a modern, patient-centred service".
The spokesman stressed that the proposal to redeploy vehicles and crews had nothing to do with the present excellent mutual working arrangements with the South, particularly with Letterkenny.
"That cooperation will continue'. he said. "It simply means that, rather than having to move from the Erne Hospital to get to a point down the line, you are halfway down the road when you follow up a call and, when that crew starts heading back to the Erne Hospital, another crew goes out to replace them. It will provide much better cover all round".
Ambulance staff seem happy enough with the move. When pressed as to their feelings if the present five-strong Accident & Emergency fleet were to be split up throughout the county, there seems to be a general agreement that staff feelings should not come into it.
"If it's for the community good, then OK', one member stated. ' It isn't about our input. I don't see why any of us should be disgruntled by it. If it's for the good of the community, then why not do it?", one staff member stated.
Ironically, when the station was refurbished some years ago, staff did suggest to management they look for a new station: "They said No but, probably down the line, with this new (South-West) hospital opening in 2010, they may have other ideas. I think myself the new hospital will hasten that development. In fact, they may have to look at a new base if the old hospital is sold off. We may have to look for some kind of facility then".
By that stage, the entire Erne Hospital site, presumably, will revert to the active ownership of the Department of Health who may wish to realise much-needed revenue from some alternative use. However, the new hospital will undoubtedly offer some accommodation for ambulances.
Certainly, one area where the redeployment does make sense is the quicker response time which would be well within the 'Golden Hour' critical point, enabling seriously ill patients to be brought in for specialist care which, the experts believe, is crucial if it is delivered with one hour of the trauma occurring.
