Calls to ambulance service in Cork and Kerry increase by almost 17%, figures show

Ambulance services in Cork and Kerry are responding to 17% more calls than two years ago, but have not seen a staff increase to match, according to data provided by the HSE.

The data, which was provided in response to a parliamentary question from a Cork TD, shows that calls to the ambulance service in Cork and Kerry increased from 49,778 in 2022 to a total of 54,089 in 2023, and 58,097 in 2024 — an increase of nearly 17% or more than 8,000 calls in two years.

Meanwhile, staff numbers have increased, but not on the same level as the increases in calls. However, the number of staff needed to cover the number of calls has increased significantly over the last four years.

The total staffing requirement to cover all previously approved rosters and provide a 30% relief factor, which is required for emergency services, was 247.2 whole time equivalents (WTE) in 2021.

Effective as of January 1 this year, this increased to 8,154 hours (209.08 WTE) per week plus a 30% relief factor of 2,446.2 hours (61.82 WTE), or a total of 270.9 WTE, a 9.57% increase from 2021.

Further figures provided by the HSE show that nine ambulance staff in Cork and Kerry resigned from the ambulance service — not including retirements, retirements on the grounds of ill-health, transfers, and promotions in 2024.

Of these resignations, exit survey interviews were issued to all nine — but only one was returned.

The response to the parliamentary question also stated that there is no phone allowance and no work phones are provided, though staff have to make calls as part of their role.

The current requirements for people seeking employment as paramedics include that staff “will be required to have a mobile telephone or approved item of communications equipment for urgent or necessary calls/contact during working hours”.

The HSE said: “In this context, the HSE does not provide telephones or a telephone allowance.”

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North-Central Thomas Gould told The Echo: “We know there is a crisis in Cork’s ambulance service.

“What is clear from these responses is that this is a crisis much deeper than we can see on paper, because those working in the sector are covering up the cracks.

“These are not people on huge wages, but they are being asked to use their own telephone every single day with no telephone allowance.

“How is that fair? They’re saving lives and the HSE can’t even give them a work phone. It’s a disgrace.

“While call volumes have increased by almost 17% since 2022, the level of allocated staffing has increased by less than 10%.

“These were people working to maximum capacity in 2022, they don’t have any more to give.”

He added: “I am very concerned at the lack of [responses to] exit interviews.”

Mr Gould also pointed out that, of the nine staff who resigned from the ambulance service in Cork and Kerry, “we only know why one left”.