The last couple of years have been a challenge for all those working in the NHS, not least those for the East of England Ambulance Service, who have had to offer help and advice far beyond usual need while hospitals were full of acutely ill Covid patients.
The East of England Ambulance Trust has also had to contend with a terrible CQC report in 2020 which highlighted a culture of bullying and poor leadership, as well has being criticised for patients having to wait excessively long times for emergency ambulances to arrive.
It was with these issues in mind that I met the Trust’s Chief Executive, Tom Abell, who took on the role last year and has been working to build a new leadership team so confidence in the Trust can be restored and to address the issues which led to the last report.
Rapid growth of population and changing demographics in the South Essex have left parts of the service under-resourced, while ambulances still have long waits outside hospitals while beds are found for those who need them. I was very pleased to hear Tom has brought in 13 additional ambulances and is recruiting more than a hundred new staff, to ease these pressures.
As Minister for Skills, I am delighted the apprenticeship route to becoming an ambulance technician or paramedic is working, and have promised to look at how we can help more people get onto the job faster.
There’s more to do but I am confident the East of England Ambulance Trust is on the right track to improve rapidly.
