GALWAY, Ireland — An Ireland city has boycotted an initiative to create a late-night ambulance service.
Cara Ambulance Service proposed to Galway officials and local pub and nightclub owners a late-night ambulance service staffed by professional paramedics and running from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., according to the Galway Independent.
Despite the mayor’s strong backing of the plan, Terry Tyson, chairman of the Galway City Vinter’s Association, said that a majority of the association’s members “would not be interested” in contributing to the service.
“This service is basically saying ‘come along, get as drunk as you want, wherever you want and then don’t worry, we’ll bring you up to the hospital and the publicans will pay for it,’” he said. “That’s ridiculous, absolutely stupid.”
Cara Ambulance officials say that their aim is not to become a profitable “drunk tank” but to provide a necessary service.
”... the service was set up to deal with medical emergencies happening on premises in the town,” Connor McVaddy of Cara Ambulance told the Galway Independent.
“We all realize the restraints that are on the services that are there already.”
Without widespread support, McVaddy said he doubts the service will be formed.