AQW 54589/11-16


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 22/02/2016
Answered On Date: 23/03/2016
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any changes to the (i) staffing levels in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service; (ii) ambulance fleet in the (a) Northern and (b) Western Health and Social Care Trusts in 2015-16; and to detail any plans or proposals for further increases.


Answer:
The table below indicates the changes in staffing levels in 2015/16:
WTE
Northern Division
Western Division
April
2015
February 2016
April
2015
February 2016
Ambulance Care Attendant (ACA) posts
63.5
62.5
48
47
ACAs in post
58.5
63
42
46
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) posts
75
75
67
66
EMTs in post
46
69
55
63
Paramedic posts
89
100
91
91
Paramedics in post
99
97
83
82
Supervisor posts
17
8
-
-
Supervisors in post
8
8
-
-
There have been no changes to the number of fleet vehicles, although a number of vehicles have been replaced. The table below shows the number of vehicles in each division:
Northern Division
Western Division
A&E Ambulances
34
24
Rapid Response Vehicles
14
12
Patient Care Service Vehicles
30
24
Support Vehicles
-
3
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) plans to increase staffing levels in 2016/17 in the Northern Division through the additional funding allocated by my Department to manage increasing demand due to demographic growth. The number and location of the additional personnel is currently being considered by the NIAS.