Letterkenny University Hospital spent €1.9 million on private ambulances over four years between 2012 and 2015.
The figures were released on the same day that it was revealed that at times there has been just one public ambulance on duty at night time in Donegal.
Senator Mac Lochlainn said these figures obtained by his colleague, Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson, Deputy Louise O’ Reilly are truly startling.
Letterkenny University Hospital spent €835,967 on private ambulances in 2015, €713,995 in 2014, €280,783 in 2013, and €67,464 in 2012. That’s a total of €1,898, 209 in four years.
Senator MacLOchlainn said “The growth in expenditure from €67,464 in 2012 to multiples of that, €835,967 in 2015 says it all about this Government’s priorities. Indeed the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was the Minister for Health when public spending on private ambulances sky rocketed”.
“What is even more galling is the news today that at times there has been only one public ambulance available at night time in Donegal. Those who work at the front line in the National Ambulance Service have again and again pleaded for more resources.
He said this expenditure of €1.9 million euro over for four years does not constitute value for money and the money should instead have been spent purchasing and staffing new ambulances which would constitute an investment and tangible assets for the state.
He added “Privatisation in its various guises has been spreading across our health service for some time now. The outsourcing of ambulance services to private companies by our health services is further evidence of this.
“The Government and the private interests involved will say that it is more cost effective, however, there is no evidence of it being a cheaper, more efficient, or innovative method of providing this essential public service.
“Unless the HSE invests in new ambulances and the crews that operate them, the ambulance service will continue to struggle and they will become even more reliant on private providers. The state needs to ensure that we have a high quality publically owned stock of ambulances instead of putting money into the pockets of private companies which does not constitute fiscal prudence or a benefit to the taxpayer”.