Two paramedics were involved in a crash yesterday as they returned to their Co Cork ambulance base.
The paramedics were returning to their ambulance station at Castletownbere when their vehicle left the road and struck a pole.
The crew suffered minor injuries while the vehicle was written-off. It is understood the paramedics had worked their normal 12-hour shift but were then requested to go on call for another 12 hours. They had been at work for approximately 22 hours when the crash happened.
Siptu representative Ted Kelly criticised rostering arrangements which required such a long shift.
Mr Kelly criticised the HSE and National Ambulance Service (NAS) for putting paramedics crews in this position.
A spokesman for the HSE, speaking on behalf of NAS, confirmed the incident but refused to comment further.
“The HSE National Ambulance Service can confirm an ambulance crew was involved in an incident last night.”
He declined to comment further because an investigation is underway..