Will the Minister provide an update on the 100 extra ambulance staff employed as part of the £3 million fund for ambulance services?
The Welsh Ambulance Services Trust has informed me that it has successfully recruited 90 of the additional 100 staff required into the organisation, 60 of whom will be operational on or before 23 January 2023, with a further 30 more to complete training and become operational in February. By the end of March, the Trust will have achieved a net increase of 100 WTE staff, which will help to future-proof its workforce.
The Trust has also confirmed it has completed the implementation of new staff rosters for emergency medical services (EMS), marking the end of a two- and half-year project including 146 rosters, 80 working parties, and 1,800 staff. The efficiencies associated with the new rosters will equate to 72 whole time equivalent staff. The project will now be evaluated to support longer-term benefits realisation and learning.