AN AMBULANCE service taking elderly patients to a Dublin hospital has been curtailed due to staff shortages.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) admitted the service operated by St Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park was reduced after retiring workers were not replaced.

There have been calls for the HSE to reinstate the full transport facility as patients unable to make their own way to St Mary's are being denied care.

A HSE spokeswoman told the Herald: "The ambulance service is continuing to provide transport services to St Mary's albeit on a reduced basis due to staffing shortfalls caused by non-replacement of retiring staff.

"The restoration of a full service is a priority for the HSE and we are urgently working to ensure a full service is restored as quickly as possible," she said.

However, Senator Paschal Donohoe (FG), who represents the area, said he has had complaints from constituents about the reduction.

Comfort

"This issue was raised with me by local residents and families who depend on this service. It is vital that this service be restored.

"St Mary's is a wonderful facility that provides care and comfort to many," he said.

"It is very disappointing that some are denied this service because they have no way to get to it.

"The full restoration of this service will make a big difference and the HSE need to do all they can to make this happen."

St Mary's has 327 beds, and provides a wide range of services for elderly patients.

The HSE has a moratorium on staff recruitment in their efforts to get expenditure under control.

It has been engaged in a constant battle to maintain services while budgets are shrinking.

In Dublin's south city area, parents strongly criticised the HSE earlier this summer for temporarily stopping developmental checks normally carried out on babies at between six and 18 months.

During these check-ups, hearing, sight, physical development and early speech are all monitored.

Labour health spokesperson Jan O'Sullivan said: "The heart is being torn out of the community health system."

comurphy@herald.ie