Pathfinder in Galway is made of six members who are therapists and advanced paramedics. This group is at the front line of emergency calls for our elderly. When a 999 call comes in for an elderly person who has fallen, Pathfinder is dispatched first to access and treat, if possible, the elderly person in their own home. Councillor Noel Thomas tells me that for over 80% of its callouts, it can treat the person where they are. This eliminates the stressful ordeal for the elderly person of having to be brought by ambulance to a crowded accident and emergency department. The HSE and the Minister are ordering this group to cease its operations for the month of March and to instead work in the accident and emergency department of Galway hospital in case there is a surge in patients. They did the same thing last year and there was no surge, so why are they doing it again and disrupting the great service that Pathfinder delivers? Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister to explain how this makes any sense and to please leave Pathfinder doing this vital service uninterrupted for the month of March?

Sentiment score: -0.03