SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has expressed concerns over a steady increase in ambulance waiting times over the past five years.
Mr Durkan has said that recent figures are reflective of the overall deterioration within the Health and Social Care Trust.
The MLA for Foyle commented: “The continued increase in ambulance response times is reflective of the overall pressures within the NIAS who are already stretched to capacity.
“I met with NIAS’s new chair, Nicole Lappin, earlier this month who assured me that they are working hard to resolve current waiting times and bring the service up to scratch.
“However, with current resource pressures right across the Department of Health, services have been unable to cope with demand. Paramedics and other medical professionals are doing their very best with what they have.
“The heroism of the ambulance service in the face of extremely challenging conditions is unquestionable.
“They carry out hugely important work within our communities in a role that brings with it unimaginable levels of stress.
“Ambulance workers must be commended for their great work but it is clear that resource issues only add to pressures in what is already a stressful profession.
“The reality is that some areas, including the North West, do not have adequate ambulance cover. This is not an issue caused by lack of vehicles but rather a deficit in specialist staff.
“In order to address these issues it is vitally important to ensure an adequate number of people are being trained to staff our ambulance fleet, that workers are properly rewarded and have opportunities and pathways to progress.
“However it will be even harder to sell transformation of emergency departments in the absence of a brilliantly functioning ambulance service,” added Mr Durkan.
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