A GARDA was asked to drive an ambulance to Letterkenny General Hospital because no paramedic was available, a county councillor claimed today.
Cllr Liam Blaney says the incident happened just a few hundred metres from the hospital.
It follows another incident where the mother of a seriously ill child had to drive her own car to Letterkenny last November with a paramedic in the back seat because just one paramedic had gone to her home.
After that incident the HSE insisted the advanced paramedic had taken that decision to get the mother to drive her car because of the state of the boy; and that another ambulance crew was en route at the time.
Cllr Blaney said he has raised the latest incident with HSE.
“This incident I have learned of was before Christmas. A person was injured in a road accident near the hospital,” he said today.
“One paramedic attended the scene and a Garda who was also at the scene had to drive the ambulance back to the hospital.”
Cllr Blaney said he was fearful that there aren’t enough ambulance crew in the county.
“It just takes one or two staff to go off sick and then there isn’t enough cover,” said Cllr Blaney.
“I’ve asked the HSE for a report on this incident and so far they haven’t been able to give them a response. I have provided them with the details I am aware of.
“I am very very worried about what would happen in a case if this was in Fanad or Inishowen.”
The HSE says it is investigating Cllr Blaney’s complaint.