A BOLTON MP has expressed shock at new figures which reveal a shortage of paramedics in Bolton and across the North West.

A Freedom of Information request made by the Labour party shows that there are currently 204 unfilled paramedic posts in the North West, the most vacancies of any trust in the country.

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust has said that paramedic recruitment is currently an issue nationally as there aren’t enough trained paramedics available to fill all of the vacancies.

The Trust is recruiting trained paramedics from overseas to fill posts and relying on paramedics to work over time to fill gaps.

Commenting on the findings Sir David Crausby said: “Patients need to know that when they phone an ambulance they will be helped, but ambulance services are under supported and over stretched. The paramedics who work for our National Health Service do a fantastic job but the sad truth is there are simply not enough of them.

“These finding come at a time when A&E services are straining to meet demand and other services are being withdrawn. This is yet another sign that the Government is completely failing to manage our NHS.”