Fear 999 staff sickness rates could hit calls

High levels of sickness among staff at the Wales Ambulance Service could affect its ability to reach life-threatening emergency calls across Mid Wales, according to a service trust report.

The Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust said it also faced 'significant extra costs' for overtime.

But the trust said it was reducing sickness rates and has plans in place to manage absences. In March the rate among its 2,500 staff was 7.3 per cent, this fell to 6.6 per cent in September.

No figures are available to show how many sickness days are taken in Powys, but the sickness level makes the ambulance service the worst performing sector of NHS Wales, which has an average sickness rate of 5.2 per cent of staff off at any one period.

A service document said it had hit ambulance response times for the last eight months but it was 'concerned' by sickness rates. The issue was categorised as being almost certain to have 'major consequences' which could lead to 'major injury leading to long-term disability' to patients.