Page 44 - Fire Services Journal 2018

Working Together National Ambulance Service
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) is the statutory pre-hospital emergency and intermediate care provider for
the State. In the Dublin metropolitan area, ambulance services which are funded by the HSE are provided by the NAS and
Dublin Fire Brigade.
The NAS mission is to serve the needs of patients and the public as part of an integrated health system, through the provision of high quality, safe and patient-centered services. This care begins immediately at the time that the emergency call is received, continues through to the safe treatment, transportation and handover of the patient to the clinical team at the receiving hospital or ED.
The National Ambulance Service continues to implement a significant reform agenda which mirrors many of the strategic changes underway in ambulance services internationally as they strive for high performance and efficiency whilst coping with a continuously increasing demand on services.
As we strive to achieve our goals, our work is grounded in our vision, mission and values and this plan is designed to place people at the centre of the services we provide and ensure that at all times for the public and service users we are achieving the best value for money.
The NAS responds to over 300,000 ambulance calls each year, employs over 1,800 staff across 100 locations and has a fleet of approximately 500 vehicles. In conjunction with its partners the NAS transports approximately 40,000 patients via an Intermediate Care Service, co-ordinates and dispatches more than 800 aero medical/air ambulance calls, completes 600 paediatric and neonatal transfers and supports Community First Responder Schemes.
The service will move towards a more multi-dimensional urgent and emergency care provision model which is safe and of the highest quality. This is in accordance with international trends, the desire to implement the recommendations of
the various reviews into the service and the ultimate aim of improving patient outcomes whilst ensuring appropriate and targeted care delivery.
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HSE National Ambulance Service T: 01 4631624/6 E: director.nas@hse.ie Rivers Building, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24XNP2 W: www.nationalambulanceservice.ie