Chief Executive reports on record year of achievement. [25/09/2009 17:03]

At its annual general meeting on 24 September, The Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), Mr Liam McIvor, presented the Trust's annual report detailing the record number of 999 calls received and responded to by the ambulance service.

Ambulance crews throughout the province responded to 116,787 emergency calls during the year compared to 111,663 in the previous year which is an increase of almost 100 calls per week. Alluding to his prediction at the previous years AGM when he stated that the challenge for NIAS was "to work harder and to work smarter", Mr McIvor went on to pay tribute to all staff involved in the delivery of pre-hospital emergency care, without whom it would not have been possible to deliver the service.

Operational activity

In the context of this continuing increase in demand on the service, Mr McIvor welcomed that NIAS had achieved its targets in relation to response times to Category A calls (those calls which are classified as immediately life threatening). "rapid response is critical to ensuring the best possible outcome for our patients. Our crews deliver the highest quality care and are now able to get to these patients much quicker than ever before. The use of mobile data solution systems, an increased role for rapid response vehicles and the vital support provided by the Patient Care Service have all contributed to this success."

To the future

The Chairman of the Trust, Mr Paul Archer, who was chairing the meeting for the first time having been in post for just under a year, echoed the sentiments of the Chief Executive in praising the staff for their efforts in delivering a pre-hospital emergency care service in what have been very challenging times. He stated that he "has been honoured to be involved in a service which provides for the people of Northern Ireland at their time of need. I have inherited a service in good shape and it is my intention to do what I can to assist the Chief Executive and his team to continue this improvement in times that are more challenging than ever before. I am confident that, with the continued cooperation of all involved, patient care, which is central to what we do, will continue to improve in the hands of our dedicated professionals"

Delivering within budget.

Whilst patient care is central to all activities of the Trust, it is always important that this delivery is within the budget allocated each year. Mrs Sharon McCue, Director of Finance, delivered the Trusts financial position, reporting that from a budget of £53million, the Trust delivered a small surplus of £38k. She welcomed the fact that the Trust had also received a higher level of capital investment. She reported that "these financial targets could not have been met without the efforts of staff within the Finance Directorate and the co-operation of budget holders throughout the organisation".

The meeting was concluded with the chairman wishing the senior managers luck in their efforts to maintain and improve upon last years performance in the current year.

Annual report can be found [here]

Trust Board Meeting - 24 September 2009 at 3.30pm in the Ambulance Headquarters [17/09/09]

A Trust Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, 24 September 2009 at 3.30pm in the Ambulance Headquarters, Site 30, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast, BT8 8SG

This will be followed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 6.00pm

Members of the public are welcome to attend.

For further information, please contact - The Chief Executive's Office, Trust Headquarters on (028) 9040 0999

Minister for Health approves NIAS proposals for efficiencies and investment. [09/09/09]

The Minister for Health, Mr Michael McGimpsey, MLA, has approved proposals presented to him by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service in relation to efficiency savings and Comprehensive Spending Review Investment.

In a statement issued on Thursday 9 September he said;

"Last year I announced record investment in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) of £100 million over the next ten years in vehicles and other vital equipment.

"This includes a major £17 million capital investment up to 2011 to allow the Service to buy 60 new A&E ambulances, 26 Rapid Response Vehicles and a further 60 non-emergency vehicles."

"A further £12 million revenue funding has been allocated to strengthen and support ambulance services so they can respond more quickly to emergency calls and help provide life-saving services to patients who need it. In fact, the public is already starting to benefit from this investment as ambulance response times continue to improve significantly.

" Latest figures show that the ambulance service is exceeding its current target of responding to 70% of category A life threatening calls within 8 minutes with a response figure of nearly 74% within the target. This progess is very welcome and I intend that it should continue."

The investment will also enable the NIAS to replace older ambulances and allow them to move to a The Minister continued: "The budget agreement requires Health and Social Care to achieve £700m in efficiency savings over the three years to 2011. The NIAS has had to find its share of 3% efficiency savings over the next three years. Following careful scrutiny I have now approved their proposals to achieve these savings on the condition that there are no compulsory redundancies and most importantly, that the Ambulance Service abides by its duty to provide high quality, safe and effective services to patients in Northern Ireland.

"In addition, I have asked the NIAS to ensure it closely monitors and evaluates the changes. In particular, they will review the model proposed for Belfast so that they can ensure that it is providing a rapid and life-saving response to all patients.

"I accept that a great deal of work is still necessary to plan and deliver these proposals and I have asked the NIAS to take this forward as a matter of urgency and with full consultation and engagement with the Trade Unions.

"I want to acknowledge the way in which the Ambulance Service has actively sought to engage with the public and have changed a number of their original proposals to take account of public concerns. It is essential that patients receive the best possible care and treatment and that we all continue our efforts to create the world-class health service our population deserves."

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