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Cars replace ambulances because of paramedic shortage

The south west ambulance service is having to respond to some incidents in cars instead of ambulances - because of staff shortages.


It's because ambulances have to be crewed by two people - and when staff call in sick at short notice there aren't enough paramedics on duty.

The organisation has also increased its spending on agency admin and clerical staff - from nothing in 2012, to more than 350 thousand pounds in the first quarter of this year.

A spokesman said that's because of its new contracts to run the NHS 111 and out of hours services - and an increase in the size of the area it covers.

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