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Written question asked by Helen Hayes (Labour) on Thursday, 28 October 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 November 2021 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Tuesday, 2 November 2021. A substantive answer was provided by Edward Argar (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 November 2021 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Ambulance Services: Staff

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of staffing levels in the ambulance service in (a) London and (b) England; and what steps he is taking to reduce vacancies in that service.

Answer

No such recent assessment has been made.

The number of both clinical and support staff is in the ambulance service is significantly increasing. As of July 2021, there are almost 17,700 clinical ambulance staff working in the National Health Service (NHS), an increase of 4.1% since July 2020 and over 24,700 ambulance support staff, an increase of 2.9% since July 2020. The NHS has provided a £55 million investment for ambulance trusts to boost staff numbers ahead of winter, increasing capacity in terms of available ambulances to respond to patients and of staff in control rooms.

The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS) is undertaking their most ambitious recruitment drive for Paramedics, Trainee Emergency Ambulance Crew roles, and Assistant Ambulance Practitioners. The LAS recruitment team have achieved fill rates of 93% for Paramedics and 80% for non-registrant roles. They have recruited an additional 500 frontline staff and expect to end the year with only a 2% vacancy rate. This pace of recruitment is significantly above the historic rate of population change in London.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
65476
Session
2021-22
Subjects
Ambulance services Staff Vacancies
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk