§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed by Two Shires Ambulance NHS trust in each year since 1997; and what the average sickness absence rate for staff was(a) in the UK and (b) in Two Shires Ambulance NHS trust in each year. [27784]
§ Ms BlearsThe total number of (whole-time equivalent) staff employed at the Two Shires Ambulance national health service trust for the years 1997–2000 are as follows:
Year Number 1997 450 1998 510 1999 550 2000 580 The collection of NHS trust sickness absence rates commenced in 1998 and the Two Shires Ambulance trust returned their first in 1999. The results of the sickness absence survey for 2000 are not yet finalised and the collection for 2001 has not yet taken place.
In 1999 the sickness absence rate for the Two Shires Ambulance NHS trust was 5.5 per cent.