Paramedic left stranded in Laois by colleague following row sparks investigation

The Chairman of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association(NASRA) has spoken of the difficulties following the revelations that a paramedic was left stranded at a petrol station in Laois following a disagreement with a colleague.

It was reported on Tuesday that a staff member had repeatedly asked the driver of the ambulance to slow down during bad weather conditions, ultimately leading to a disagreement that finished with the paramedic being left stranded at a petrol station on Saturday night.

Michael Dixon, Chairman of NASRA which is based in Sallins, said: “I don’t think the service itself was affected, but obviously to have our laundry washed in public like that, for an incident such as that, is difficult.

“I would also stress… that there may have been circumstances leading to that.

“Staff in the Ambulance Service and morale is extremely low at the moment, and that’s due to public service agreements [and] inequality in the pay.”

He added: “Look, on a personal note, I would have to say it’s not acceptable.

“At the end of the day, we’re a small group, there’s 1,600-1,800 of us in the country, working for the National Ambulance Service, and to have an issue like that raised is difficult.

“There will have to be an investigation– you can’t leave a staff member behind.”