To ask the Scottish Executive how many ambulances have been operational in the city of Edinburgh in each month since June 1999.
The information is not availablein the format requested.
There has been no increase inthe actual number of accident and emergency ambulances since 1999. However, withthe introduction of the priority based dispatch system in 2002, the Scottish AmbulanceService has become much more efficient at strategically deploying its vehicles toensure that Category A (life-threatening) calls are responded to more quickly. In2005-06, the ambulance service responded to all emergency incidents in Edinburgh inan average of 8.2 minutes. This is against the target the service is working toof responding to 75% of all Category A calls within eight minutes across mainlandScotland by the fourth quarter of 2007-08.
The ambulance service constantlymonitors its resources in order to meet demand. At peak times, which are mainlyday shift hours, up to 15 accident and emergency double crewed ambulances are onduty in Edinburgh City. At lower demand times, which are mainly mid-week nightshifts, there are five double crewed ambulances on duty. However, the ambulanceservice’s satellite technology and IT systems enable it to identify and deploy anyambulance resource to a call if it is the most appropriate response and is the closestvehicle.
The ambulance service also operatestwo Rapid Response Units, which are each crewed by one paramedic. These units, whichwere introduced in 2002-03, are on duty for a minimum of 16 hours each day,seven days a week. They respond to Category A calls and are backed up where necessaryby an accident and emergency ambulance.