OXFORDSHIRE’S ambulance service spent £12.3m using private firms to take patients to hospital in the last financial year to meet “increased demand”.

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, which also serves Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Hampshire, has increased spending on private contractors – often for 999 cases – by nearly 50 per cent in comparison to the same period between 2013 and 2014.

According to figures revealed after a Freedom of Information request, SCAS spent the money on six providers – including St John Ambulance – between April 2014 and March 2015 for 999 calls.

This is the first time since 2010 and 2011 that the trust’s spending on private providers has exceeded £10m.

SCAS has spent more on private companies than any other ambulance trust in the country, responding to an average of almost 6,000 call-outs each month.

Ambulance spokeswoman Michelle Archer said: “Over the last five years demand on the ambulance service has steadily increased each year.

“In SCAS that demand increased by over six per cent during 2014 and 2015 compared to 2013 and 2014.

“Our use of private providers allows us to manage demand on services coupled with a national shortage of paramedics.” This comes after the ambulance service said it hoped to employ hundreds more paramedics to meet the surge in demand.

In May the provider said it would look to hire 230 new paramedics but there were concerns from the paramedic’s union Unison.

Paramedic and SCAS union representative Gavin Bashford said: “If we manage to get 230 staff and no more staff leave then it would improve the situation.

“But at the moment we still have an awful lot leaving. I think the management is being optimistic.”

Unison has said that in a poll of about 350 members, 82 per cent of staff considered leaving due to the stress of the job.

The union’s regional organiser Sarah O’Donoghue said: “The problem is they don’t get enough staff. It’s an ongoing issue and there’s a national shortage of paramedics.

I don’t think any of our members are really looking for more money, it’s more about a work-life balance.

“A lot of our members have found regular ‘late finishes’ have been a strain.”

SCAS has said it is looking at recruiting from countries such as Poland and Australia.

Ms Archer added: “Qualifying as a highly skilled paramedic can open doors to other opportunities, such as other healthcare providers and services who now require that additional level of medical support.”