Organisational ‘stress’ in National Ambulance Service – Director

There is a “significant mismatch” between demand and capacity in the National Ambulance Service (NAS), its Director told an internal HSE meeting.

In November, Mr Robert Morton informed the HSE planning and performance committee of the “key strategic risks” facing the service. He said the NAS continues to experience “a significant mismatch between demand for services and available capacity” with a notable degree of “approved, but unfunded service delivery operating in 2023”. He added that “the pace in the growth of demand significantly exceeds available capacity”.

The NAS Director highlighted that “organisational stress” was impacting on staff wellbeing, morale, recruitment, and retention.

The committee discussed the issue of recruitment, noting that “approximately” 1,080 additional NAS staff were “currently required”.

Mr Morton said “a lot of effort” has been put into recruitment, and there was a need for “pay modernisation” in the service.

A report presented by Mr Morton to the meeting also referred to the “significant” impact of the HSE recruitment embargo on implementation of the three-year NAS organisational re-design programme.

Asked by the Medical Independent what actions are being taken on NAS recruitment and “pay modernisation”, a HSE spokesperson said the service had experienced “significant developments” over the past decade and more, “especially in the role and professionalism of its frontline staff.”

“However, it has been recognised that job descriptions/person specifications have not necessarily been updated to reflect these changes and current service care, delivery, and practice.”

The spokesperson added that NAS is working to address “any anomalies that have arisen, identify clear career paths and structures, review and update roles, duties and responsibilities, and make recommendations on the grading structure including updated salary scales”.