The Civil Defence College has made a statement in relation to the issues surrounding the PHECC medical license. The statement was released before a certificate graduation ceremony at the college in Roscrea this afternoon.
The statement read: ‘Civil Defence’s current licence was due to expire at the end of November 2018. In advance of the renewal process, the Department of Defence reviewed the statutory declaration. That review identified that some assurances and details required as part of the licensing process are not within the control or remit of the Department of Defence as responsibility for operations rests with local authorities as set out in the 2015 Government White Paper on Defence.
An example of one of the assurance (section M) required as part of the declaration is “The applicant has medications and equipment for the administration of pre-hospital emergency care available, when providing a pre hospital emergency care service in a vehicle, an aircraft, maritime craft or a first aid/medical post which are appropriate to the clinical levels as outlined in the current PHECC medications and skills matrix”
In terms of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC), they are the regulator for emergency medical services (EMS) in Ireland and their role is to protect the public. PHECC require organisations who wish to be operational, to apply to PHECC for an annual licence to operate. As part of the application process for Civil Defence to have a “licence to operate” and thus provide a first aid service up to Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) level, the Department of Defence previously signed the statutory declaration required by PHECC.
The Department of Defence is currently working with all relevant parties to ensure it can reach a position, whereby it can provide the assurances required as part of the licensing process.
PHECC agreed to extend Civil Defence’s current licence up to the 30 July 2019. This was to allow relevant parties to engage to try resolve the issue. Engagement has been ongoing with PHECC and with representatives of the Local Authorities through the City and County Managers Association since earlier this year.
The College said ‘Everyone wants to see a satisfactory resolution to this matter to ensure there is no diminution of the service provided by Civil Defence and further engagement will take place next week with all relevant parties.’
Photo: (Courtesy Civil Defence College)
This afternoon Civil Defence College held a Graduation Ceremony for volunteers, members of the National Ambulance Services and Defence Forces. Dr. Shane Knox was in attendance from the National Ambulance Service and Superintendent Maria Conway from the Garda Training College, Templemore.
The instructor awards included; Missing Persons Search, First Aid Responder, Cardiac First Responder, Manual Handling, People Handling and Swiftwater & Flood Responder.
The Civil Defence Missing Person Search Instructors that graduated today from this new CD programme, are part of the first missing persons programme to be developed and certified in Ireland.
The Cardiac First Responder Instructors and First Aid Response Instructor Graduates are one of the busiest group of instructors within Civil Defence.
The Civil Defence College said it is very proud to have built a very strong working relationship with the National Ambulance Services College and Defence Forces. ‘This close working relationship is evident today as volunteers and members of the NAS and DF graduate with their interagency QQI Level 6 Award. Our close working relationship with DF and NAS ensures consistency and standardisation in training programmes which are considered to be the national standard.’
