Some Northern Ireland ambulances were unable to rush to Creeslough after last year’s gas explosion that killed 10 people because of ‘visa issues’ involving foreign-born paramedics, it has emerged.
The disclosure about the Altnagelvin Hospital-based ambulances was made to an inquiry by the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly into the operation of the century-old Common Travel Area agreement between the Republic and the United Kingdom.
“Some ambulances from Northern Ireland could not assist during the explosion that occurred in Creeslough because not all of the paramedics had the necessary visas to cross the invisible border,” Fine Gael senator Emer Currie told the assembly.
Northern Ireland’s emergency services did, however, play a significant role in the aftermath of the Creeslough tragedy in October 2022, including crews from the NI Fire and Rescue Service, the air ambulance and ambulances.
Nevertheless, the Creeslough example was used to highlight the difficulties registration and visa regulations are causing for healthcare services in the Republic and Northern Ireland, especially for hospital consultants who treat patients on both sides of the Border.
Read the full report on www.irishtimes.com
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