Ambulance crews renew strike threat

AMBULANCE CREWS have renewed a threat of all-out industrial action in a row over the use of private ambulance services.

Siptu, which represents 1,200 paramedics in the State, wrote to the Health Service Executive (HSE) last Friday threatening to reinstate an earlier strike notice over the use of three private ambulance companies for relief work.

Siptu wants the HSE to confirm it has terminated an agreement with the three firms, with effect from the end of June. This was agreed between the two sides in talks last March, after which Siptu called off its proposed action.

However, one of the companies, Lifeline Ambulance Service, took legal action over the deal between the union and the HSE.

Last Friday, the HSE undertook in the High Court to continue using emergency ambulance services provided by Lifeline pending the outcome of the company’s challenge to the proposed termination of its contract. This is unlikely to be heard until the autumn.

As a result, the HSE appears to have contracted two contradictory agreements: with the private companies to provide services for two years; and with Siptu to terminate these agreements.

Lifeline told the court it had provided ambulance services in accordance with the agreement since January last. It said it had acquired seven new ambulances and additional staff to meet the requirements of the agreement and would suffer losses of several million euro if it was terminated.

The HSE gave notice last March of terminating the contract, citing “unforeseen reasons”.

Siptu branch secretary Matt Merrigan said he had asked the HSE to confirm the termination of the agreement. If an answer was not received “asap”, strike notice would be reactivated, he said.