Paramedic overtime costs soar

The amount of money paid in overtime costs to paramedics has hit a five-year high, according to figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives.

The Scottish Ambulance Service spent more than £6.3 million paying paramedics to work extra shifts in 2017, the numbers reveal.

The precise figure of £6,361,218 was up more than £670,000 in a year, and is the highest figure in the last five years.

The data was obtained by the Conservatives via Freedom of Information rules.

Scottish Conservative public health spokeswoman Annie Wells said: “The fact more than £6 million was spent on overtime just for paramedics last year goes to show just how short-staffed the organisation must be.

“Many staff will be willing to do these additional shifts but, from a health and safety perspective, it’s not ideal to be relying on this so heavily.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: “With a growing and ageing population, demand is rising and our staffing numbers are obviously increasing as a result of this, with 1,000 additional paramedics being trained by 2021.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Funding for the Scottish Ambulance Service has increased to a record high, with more than £235 million being invested this year, which has allowed staffing in the ambulance service to increase by almost 25%.”