AQW 54589/11-16 Written question to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
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.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 22 February 2016
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 22 February 2016
- Answer due by
- 8 March 2016
- Answered
- 23 March 201630 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
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.