1 May 2012
Dr Dan Poulter, Member of Parliament for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, and Peter Aldous, Member of Parliament for Waveney, have called for urgent action to be taken to improve ambulance response times in Suffolk, after recently published figures showed that many residents in Suffolk are still being forced to wait longer than the 8 minute target time for an ambulance to arrive at the scene of an emergency.

The MPs’ joint call comes after assurances were given by the Chief Executive of the East of England Ambulance Trust last year that steps would be taken to improve ambulance response times in rural areas of Suffolk.

The latest figures, which cover the period between December 2011 to March 2012, show that;

  • In Framlingham, 27% of emergencies were responded to within the 8 minute target time.

  • In Mendham, 35% of emergencies were responded to within the 8 minute target time.

  • In Debenham, 35% of emergencies were responded to within the 8 minute target time.

  • In Stradbroke, 31% of emergencies were responded to within the 8 minute target time.

  • In Eye, 30% of emergencies were responded to within the 8 minute target time.

  • In Bungay, 26% of emergencies were responded to within the 8 minute target time.

  • In Beccles, 53% of emergencies were responded to within the 8 minute target time.


Ambulance services are required to respond to 75% of all category A (immediately life-threatening) patients within 8 minutes and, where needed, to provide transport to these calls within 19 minutes.

Dr Poulter said; ‘As an NHS hospital doctor, I have always believed in the underlying principle that NHS services and treatment should be available to everyone, regardless of where they happen to live. Yet, as these figures show, residents in rural parts of Suffolk are contuinung to receive a second-rate ambulance service, despite assurances from the Chief Executive of the East of England Ambulance Trust last year that improvements would be made.

‘It is unacceptable that ambulance response times are still slower in many parts of Suffolk than other counties in the East of England. Our paramedics in Suffolk work extremely hard and do an excellent job providing life-saving treatment to people on a daily basis, which is why it is essential that resources are directed to the frontline so that patients in rural areas can receive the same ambulance service as residents in more urban areas.

‘The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust has failed over recent years to meet targets for dispatching ambulances to life-threatening incidents in rural parts of Suffolk. It is important that responsibility is taken by the East of England Ambulance Trust.

Peter Aldous added; ‘For too long, residents in Waveney have been forced to suffer some of the worst ambulance response times in the East of England and, as these latest figures show, the situation on the ground is not improving. It is vital that delays in reaching critically injured patients in rural Suffolk are improved and I shall be working with fellow Suffolk MP Dr Dan Poulter to hold the East of England Ambulance Service to account’.