North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has boosted its workforce to support the region throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing more than 450 new workers to the frontline in recent weeks.

NWAS has also increased the number of ambulances available by converting 80 non-emergency patient transport vehicles and adding the equipment needed to respond to emergencies.

To staff these additional vehicles, student paramedics and apprentice emergency medical technicians have become fully operational and 150 of NWAS’s patient transport service (PTS) employees have volunteered to receive additional training and work alongside emergency service clinicians to provide a safe and effective service. This includes 31 members of staff across North Cumbria and Morecambe Bay.

An additional 187 staff are in place to handle 999 calls across the region’s emergency operations centres, while 150 additional NHS 111 clinicians, health and service advisors have also joined the team.

Daren Mochrie, chief executive, said: “Providing the right care to the people of the north west is always our number one priority and we knew from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic we would need to be ready for an increase in demand on our service.

Expanding our workforce in this way has allowed us to continue to help those who need us.

“It was not an easy task - increasing our workforce at this pace and scale has taken a real team effort from across the organisation.

“It takes courage to step up to a challenging new role at a time like this and we really do appreciate the support and input from all our new starters and volunteers.

“We have received so much support from the public and all we ask is that everyone continues to help us out by following government advice and doing your part to save lives. We are here for you if you need us – dial 999 if you have a life-threatening illness or injury. If it’s not an emergency, you can visit 111 Online for urgent care advice.”

For more information about NWAS or for current vacancies, visit www.nwas.nhs.uk.