The data are not collected for east Lancashire. However, there were 1,175 paramedics in the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust in 2006. The figures for 2007 will be available in March but, nationally, paramedic numbers have risen steadily over recent years, from 6,245 in 1996 to 8,222 in September 2006.
It is regrettable that the figures for my area are not available because blue light accident and emergency services moved from Burnley to Blackburn on 1 November, which has prompted huge local concern that the transfer is not delivering the benefits that we were told to expect. Is my friend satisfied with how the move has gone, and will he meet me and other concerned Members from east Lancashire to discuss the problems in my area?
I am always happy to meet Members. If my hon. Friend has specific examples or evidence of where he thinks the reorganisation has not gone well, I will happily look into them even before we have a chance to meet. I do not think it makes sense, however, for Ministers in Whitehall to second-guess the way that local health services and ambulance trusts organise their services. I am sure that my hon. Friend is aware that three additional ambulances have been taken on to help with the reorganisation. The accident and emergency services were not centralised in Burnley, and I am, of course, aware that concern was expressed there in particular, on account of that fact, but, interestingly, the figures do not point to a large increase in the number of people presenting themselves in Blackburn instead; there has been only about a 5 per cent. change.