North West ambulance crew numbers fall by over 600 as NHS crisis worsens

New House of Commons Library research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed the North West has a staggering 656 fewer ambulance staff compared to 2015. The region has lost the greatest number of staff despite ambulance wait times soaring to dangerous levels. 

Only two other regions have seen a drop in ambulance staff numbers, the East Midlands (-316) and South East Coast (-194).

The number of full time ambulance staff in England has dropped by 469 since 2015, largely because of the massive fall in numbers in the North West region. 

Recently the medical director of North West Ambulance Service warned the service was being “overwhelmed”. 

The Liberal Democrats are calling for an urgent five point plan to support ambulance services this winter to ease the pressure on hospitals. As part of this the party is calling for a long-term strategy to improve social care, free up hospital beds and stop ambulances waiting outside hospitals.

Liberal Democrat Councillor and Parliamentary candidate for Hazel Grove Lisa Smart said:

“This once again proves the blame for the NHS crisis lies squarely with the Government. Our local health services have been decimated by years of underfunding and mismanagement from Government Ministers. It feels like we are being taken for granted. 

“It is no wonder ambulance waiting times have reached dangerous levels across Stockport, Manchester and Liverpool, when the Government has failed to recruit more paramedics. 

“I have heard from local residents who have waited hours for an ambulance in awful conditions, such as the woman in Marple who had to wait 6 hours with four broken ribs and in excruciating pain, or the man who told me his wife fell outside in freezing conditions. Unable to move her inside, they had to wait 6 hours in the cold for an ambulance to arrive! And, heartbreakingly, the parents who waited five hours for help with their child having a series of bad seizures.

“The consequences of the Conservative Government’s failure have been horrifying, from the elderly left on the floor for hours after a fall to those in life and death situations not being treated in time.  

“More lives in our area will be lost if the Government does not act now. The Government must launch an emergency recruitment campaign to staff our ambulances and save lives.”