Ambulance staff again put patient safety before pay

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Ambulance staff across Ireland have once again shown their commitment to patient safety by voting decisively against a proposed pay deal. Despite the inclusion of a pay increase, 69% of members rejected the agreement because it would have imposed unsafe staffing changes and other draconian measures that risk compromising patient care.

This is now the second time frontline staff have rejected the proposals. The message is clear: ambulance professionals will not trade patient safety for pay. A central concern is the proposal to pair paramedics with Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in ways that do not recognise the significant difference in scope of practice. EMTs are vital to the ambulance service and provide a dedicated service to patients, but the clinical responsibilities of paramedics are greater, and both roles must be respected in their proper place to ensure the highest standard of care.

NAS staff have always embraced change, where it is properly planned and improves patient care. What they have rejected is a deal that places both patients and crews at risk in order to achieve short-term cost savings. It is believed that the proposed crewing model changes are an attempt to increase the NAS workforce, without maintaining adequate skill levels or training. The NAS has stated that it needs to dramatically increase its workforce, however efforts to achieve this have faltered in recent years.

While staff remain acutely aware of the urgent need for fair pay and improved working conditions, they have demonstrated that the integrity of the service, and the safety of those who depend on it, must come first.

Ambulance staff have sent an unmistakable signal: they are ready to negotiate, but not at the expense of patients. The public can be assured that those working on the frontline continue to uphold the highest standards of care — even when faced with the difficult choice of rejecting their own pay increase to protect patient safety.