“The proposals from the Ambulance Service, along with the significant investments I am making, will mean an overall increase in the number of paramedic hours by 65,800 hours a year, meaning more Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) on the ground delivering life-saving emergency care to those who need it. These vehicles are an integral part of our ambulance service fleet. They are operated by trained, skilled paramedics who carry exactly the same life-saving equipment and drug treatments as an A&E ambulance. They can also get more quickly to the location of an emergency to begin administering life-saving treatment as soon as possible. This would help to modernise and improve our emergency response. There would also be no redundancies and I will consider the proposals very carefully.
“I have said many times that I do not have any choice on delivering efficiency savings. All parties at the Executive table voted for them. Consequently, the health service is being forced to make huge changes in such a short period of time. I have previously stated that I have very strong concerns about the three year timescale. I therefore find some of the reaction to the proposals astonishing considering that in April, the vast majority of Assembly Members voted against exempting the health service from efficiency savings. This smacks of blatant hypocrisy.
“It is scaremongering of the worst kind and only serves to undermine public confidence in the emergency services. I fail to understand why some continue to speak of cuts in ambulance service cover, when in fact, it is actually being increased under these proposals. The total number of paramedic hours across Northern Ireland would increase to over 600,000 hours. Such extra hours will add real value by responding to emergencies and helping to save lives.
“We are all indebted to the staff of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, who are skilled health professionals delivering vital, life-saving care in the front line of emergency services. Their role should be respected as they continue to deliver high quality care to the public.”
