Published on May 09, 2017

Irelands Voluntary Ambulance Service join the NDRS

Tetra Ireland are delighted to announce that Ireland’s Voluntary Ambulance Services are to begin their move to the national digital radio services network in June 2017.

Welcoming the commencement of Tetra enabled digital radios, Tony Lawlor, National Director of Units, Irish Red Cross said that

“the new digital radios will be a secure, quality platform to assist Irish Red Cross personnel on ongoing public event cover and occasional major emergency support  roles in severe weather and flooding support.”

Tony’s comments have been echoed by the National Director of Order of Malta Ireland and the Commissioner of St John Ireland. The Irish Red Cross, Order of Malta  Ireland and St John Ireland have come together with the support of the national lottery service to upgrade their communications systems and introduce Tetra technology at a national level. The national digital radio services network will provide them with a secure, resilient, national footprint allowing them the ability to utilize interoperable communications for command & control when supporting the primary response agencies. 

This was a natural next step for the Joint Voluntary Organisations Committee, an umbrella group representing the four main voluntary and auxiliary pre-hospital emergency care organisations. In December 2010 a Joint Voluntary Control Centre (JVCC) was activated for the first time by the Irish voluntary ambulance sector. The aim of the JVCC is to provide the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Emergency Operations Centre  with a single point of contact with the voluntary ambulance sector. The JVCC is made up of The Irish Red Cross, Order of Malta  Ireland and St John Ireland along with the Civil Defence (who are already a long standing user of the national digital radio network).

The JVCC initiative arose from a review of the voluntary sector response levels to recent adverse weather events in Ireland, such as the severe flooding in October and November 2009 and the heavy snowfalls in January 2010

The Voluntary Ambulance sector in Ireland provide Emergency Service Support for the Health Service Executive. These four agencies regularly provide patient care and support at large scale public events, including concerts, parades  and sporting events. The Voluntary Ambulance services can uniquely mobilise significant resources in support of the HSE during a major emergency for ambulance transport, first aid, and patient evacuation. With their expertise and focus in the areas of first aid, patient support and patient transport, these organisations can significantly assist the Ambulance Service in many areas.

See article for more info :  

Irish Red Cross use Tetra at Longitude 2016