Laois to get another ambulance and six staff
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LAOIS is to get another ambulance and six additional staff, amid deep concern over delays in responding to local emergencies.
The HSE confirmed today that six additional National Ambulance Service (NAS) paramedics will be provided for the county, together with another ambulance vehicle.
This is a 30% increase in staff based at the Portlaoise ambulance station, which currently has 20 paramedics and five vehicles.
The news comes after a 10-year-old Portarlington girl had to wait over an hour for an ambulance to arrive from Athy during a medical emergency, when no ambulance was available in Laois. (See the front page of today’s ).
Currently, Laois has only one ambulance station while neighbouring Offaly has three, although Laois has a higher population. Only one ambulance is available in Laois on Monday and Tuesday nights, for a population of almost 93,000, with two on call during the rest of the week.
Confirming the extra resources today, the HSE said: ‘This is part of a wider investment package for the NAS that will see an additional 263 whole-time equivalent staff delivered nationwide.
‘The NAS is undergoing a significant transformation programme to enhance service delivery, optimise resources, and expand its role in providing alternative and community-based care.
‘Since 2022, additional investment has seen the NAS base budget increase by 41% (an additional €83 million) to €285 million in 2025.
‘Over the same period, staffing levels have increased by 28%, with an additional 588 whole-time equivalent staff, bringing total NAS staffing to 2,655. Capital investment of €126 million has also been made in fleet replacement and expansion to support these developments.’
Ongoing problems with the service were highlighted by Laois TD Brian Stanley to Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dáil Éireann last week.
In a statement today, Deputy Stanley said the extra resources were confirmed to him by NAS director Robert Morton.
He said: ‘The NAS is to provide six additional ambulance staff and one additional vehicle to be based at Portlaoise Hospital.
‘This will add to the current staff of 20 and five vehicles. I will continue to pursue this until these improvements are made.’
The Independent Republican TD added: ‘It is unacceptable that there is just one ambulance available on Monday and Tuesday nights in the county. Also, that the number of staff has not been increased in the past two decades, despite the huge increase in population of Laois.’
