§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of paramedics in the Ambulance Service. [122583]
§ Ms StuartWe have invested a further £21 million this year to support the ambulances in meeting the new national response time performance standards. Meeting the 75 per cent. response time target for immediately life threatening emergencies will require the recruitment and training of significant numbers of paramedics. All 32 ambulance services have presented their plans for improving performance to the National Health Service Executive including the necessary paramedic work force requirements. Currently every frontline ambulance carries a fully trained paramedic.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the role of paramedics in the Ambulance Service. [122582]
§ Ms StuartAmbulance paramedics have made a very valuable contribution to pre-hospital patient care over the past 10 years. They are playing an increasingly important role in saving lives, particularly the lives of people with heart attacks. Their responsibilities include providing life 327W saving care and drugs to people with immediately life threatening medical conditions. That is why we supported their registration as Professions Supplementary to Medicine last year.