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Facts, Performance Figures, Statistics and Finance

Facts

South Western Ambulance Service provides ambulance services for the NHS South West Strategic Health Authority (SHA). It is one of 12 NHS Ambulance Trusts in England, all of which are independent Trusts with the exception of the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service that is integrated with the Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care Trust.

The Trust serves a total estimated population of over 2.9 millioni, is estimated to receive an influx of holidaymakers and visitors of around 17.5 million each year and covers 17,094 square kilometres including 32,000 kilometres of road and 1,331 kilometres of coastlineii. The operational area is predominantly rural with a number of major urban centres such as Bournemouth, Poole and Plymouth, is served by six Unitary Authorities, three County Councils and a range of District, Borough and Parish Councils.

The Trust employs a workforce of 2,220iii whole time equivalents. The Trust also has access to 112 student paramedics, 209 bank staff and 432 sessional General Practitioners who support delivery of the Urgent Care Service.

The Trust provides three core services and a range of non core services to the four counties of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset and Somerset:

Core Services

  • Emergency Ambulance Service (A&E)
  • Urgent Care Service (UCS) - Out of Hours Medical Care
  • Patient Transport Service (PTS)

Non Core Services

  • Management of the Volunteer Ambulance Car Service (VACS);
  • Provision of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) Training;
  • Transport of medical samples and clinical records (Medical Transport Service);
  • Provision of treatment (outside of the UCS Service Level Agreement) at Minor Injury Units and Minor Treatment Units;
  • Provision of commercial and Higher Education training;
  • Provision and management of medical services at events;
  • Provision of a mobile response service for fallers (Devon Supporting People).

The Trust's twelve month Business Plan for 2010/11 and the Integrated Business Plan provide more facts on the Trust. Please click here to access the Business Plans.



i Source: Mid Year Population Estimates 2008, Office for National Statistics.
ii Source: Office for National Statistics.
iii As at 31 March 2010.
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