Ambulance Service vehicles (FOI)

Request

Please could you provide the information for the following questions below?

A

Currently, how many emergency response vehicles have the ambulance service got which respond to 999 calls?

Please list separately with regards to use, such as ambulance, rapid response vehicle, command unit and so on.

B

What is the on the road cost for one yellow ambulance currently used by the ambulance service?

C

How many ambulances are available on a day to day basis to respond to emergency calls? Does this increase on weekends and bank holidays?

D

Has the force ever considered purchasing Paramedic response motorcycles? If yes, was the idea approved or rejected and why? If no, will this be considered in the near future?

E

Currently how many members of staff are employed as part of frontline operations (Including control room) for the ambulance service?

Response

A

The States of Jersey Ambulance Service have seven frontline ambulances, three Officer / Paramedic response vehicles, one four wheel drive ambulance, two major incident equipment vehicles and one Intermediary ambulance / minibus that respond to 999 calls.

B

The on road cost for the latest yellow Mercedes Sprinter front line ambulance was £128,701.30.

C

There are three ambulances on duty between 06:30 and 22:30 daily and two between 22:30 and 06:30. In addition there is a crew of two staff on call from home to respond to the station when all three vehicles are out and availability of the next crew is more than approximately 15 minutes. In addition there is a Duty Officer and Senior Duty Officer on call 24 hours per day. Monday to Friday there is an intermediary ambulance which also responds in a first responder capacity to 999 calls if required and carries stretcher transfers for non-emergency work. There are no additional resources for weekends or bank holidays unless we are aware of any significant impacts on the service or are asked to provide medical cover at an event.

D

Paramedic response motorcycles have been considered but not scoped out. A motor cycle response would require investment in a separate team of riders as we would be unable to release staff from current duties. The cost of the scheme including specialist equipment, safety equipment, spare motor cycles and training is likely to outweigh the benefits which can be achieved through the use of rapid response cars. There are significant risks involving the use of motorcycles used at speed on small roads in Jersey. Further to this a road ambulance is still required to provide transport when required.

E

There are 32 frontline staff made up of Ambulance Technicians, Paramedics and Leading Ambulance Paramedics, three Operations Managers and 12 Combined Control Officers (with two further posts currently in the recruitment process) and one Leading Control Officer. All control positions are dual role and cover both Ambulance and Fire Service calls.