Open letter regarding treatment of newly-qualified paramedics

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To:

Minister Carroll MacNeill's Office, Department of Health, Block 1, Miesian Plaza, 50 – 58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, D02 XW14

Ms. Anne Marie Hoey, Chief People Officer, Dr Steevens Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin 8. D08 W2A8

Subject: Treatment of Newly Qualified Paramedics – Urgent Concern

Dear Minister MacNeill and Ms. Hoey,

On behalf of the members of the Irish Society of Paramedicine (ISP), we are writing to raise urgent concerns regarding the treatment of newly qualified paramedics who have recently graduated from the University of Limerick and successfully completed their internships.

Despite meeting all requirements and passing their placements, these graduates have now been contacted by National Ambulance Service (NAS) Human Resources and told their current contracts are due to end. The group, at the very start of their careers, have only been offered a very limited number of stations in which to continue employment. Many of the locations offered are long distances from their current hubs and home addresses. They have been given only a few days to decide or risk losing their employment entirely. This approach is not acceptable, placing enormous pressure on new graduates with little notice or support.

One graduate who contacted us expressed particular concern that her closest base option is 130km one-way from her home address. This is an unsafe and unsustainable commute, especially if staff are unable to secure affordable accommodation close to their allocated base. We must ask: is the NAS going to provide accommodation in these circumstances?

The bases offered — which may suit a small minority — are as follows:

• Monaghan

• Castleblaney

• Cavan

• Naas

• Baltinglass

• Gorey

• Kilkenny

• Dungarvan

• Enniscorthy

• Bantry

• Thurles

• Ballina

• Manorhamilton

While it is appreciated that station allocation is complex, this process has created major work-life balance concerns and raises alarming health and safety issues. Forcing newly qualified staff to travel vast distances, or uproot their lives, without proper consultation risks not only their well-being, but also the stability of the NAS workforce at a time when retention should be the priority.

The ISP respectfully calls on the Department of Health and the HSE to:

1. Intervene to ensure these paramedics are given fair, reasonable, and geographically practical options for contracts.

2. Direct NAS management to provide adequate notice and meaningful engagement with affected staff.

3. Address whether accommodation or relocation supports will be provided for graduates posted far from home.

4. Review workforce planning practices which currently undermine morale and risk driving highly trained paramedics away from the NAS.

Ireland cannot afford to lose motivated, newly-qualified professionals to burnout or emigration due to such practices. These paramedics deserve stability, respect, and the opportunity to build a career in the National Ambulance Service.

We urge your office to treat this matter with urgency and to engage with the ISP and affected graduates immediately.

Yours sincerely,

James Mullen, Chairperson

Jim Kelly, Vice-chairperson

Irish Society of Paramedicine