Letter - Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel to Minister for Home Affairs: SoJ Ambulance staffing queries

States Greffe

Deputy Helen Miles Minister for Home Affairs

BY EMAIL

28th September 2022 Dear Minister,

Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel: States of Jersey Ambulance Service

I am contacting you on behalf of the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel (Panel') who have received reports that the States of Jersey Ambulance Service (SoJAS) recently had to operate with low numbers of qualified frontline staff. The Panel is keen to gain an understanding of the current situation regarding SoJAS, as we believe that it could have a significant impact on the emergency response that Islanders receive.

I should be grateful if you could advise the Panel about the following:

1. Have there been staff shortages at SoJAS during the last six months?
   1. If yes, please could you confirm whether this affected any particular role or aspect of the service and, where possible, share any relevant data relating to staffing numbers with the Panel.
   2. If yes, please could you confirm the reasons for the staff shortages?
2. Is there a risk of staff shortages at SoJAS in future?
3. Please could you explain how short staffing impacts the operations of the SoJAS and how these impacts are mitigated?
4. Please could you provide information about the SoJAS staff overtime' policy and advise how often staff are required to work periods of overtime?
5. Are  you  able  to  share  any  data  about  the  number  and  category  of  calls,  and subsequent response times of SoJAS, during the previous six months?

The Panel looks forward to your response and would request this is received by 5th October 2022.

Yours sincerely,

Deputy Catherine Curtis

Chair, Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Scrutiny Office | States Greffe | Morier House | St Helier | Jersey | JE1 1DD Tel: 01534 441080 | Fax: 01534 441077 | email: scrutiny@gov.je

Website: statesassembly.gov.je/scrutiny