Ambulance cover concerns raised over high travel demand
Concerns have been raised over the high travel demand on ambulance crews in the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area.
The details were raised as NIAS presented a report to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council identifying key facts and figures for 2025/26.
SDLP councillor Pete Byrne said: “I am concerned around how far paramedics are being sent from where they are stationed. There have been a number of incidents over the last six months.
“There was a night there was only one Newry crew on, but they had been sent to Newcastle twice. We could have no service especially for rural south Armagh, when the only crew in Newry is away to Newcastle.
“The Newry crew has also been sent to Aughnacloy, Dungannon, Coalisland, Craigavon and that leaves the Newry area not covered when that crew is sent so far.”
A round trip between Newry and Newcastle is approximately 40 miles, however from Newry to Coalisland would mean a return journey of over 65miles.
The concerns were raised of time taken for travel and paramedic treatments on location during nights when only one ambulance is in operation from the Daisy Hill hospital station in Newry.
Councillor Byrne added: “It’s alright looking at figures and seeing the numbers of paramedics in Newcastle, but that is obviously now being supplemented by Newry crews.
“The response times to rural areas are significantly higher than the average call out time for NIAS.
According to the NIAS report the number of ambulance crews will increase from June 2026 to March 2027, but it is only by one extra staff member in Newry (to a total of 21.76) and two in Downpatrick (to a total of 14.6).
Kilkeel (5) and Newcastle will remain the same (3).
Northern Ireland as a whole region has just under 400 paramedics across its emergency ambulance tier.
NIAS south area manager Joanne Maguire responded: “We have to recognise that NIAS is a regional service and ambulances will be deployed from stations, but not necessarily to their own area.
“It is a very justified concern and a concern that our staff bring to us as well. “All I can say is those are the levels of cover we have within each station at the moment. We can’t guarantee where our ambulances will be.
“It is not a great answer I appreciate that , but I definitely take on-board your concerns.”