Waveney MP Peter Aldous yesterday met with East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) chairman Dr Geoffrey Harris to obtain an update on the work the ambulance service is doing to improve their performance since he became chairman earlier this year.

 

Issues discussed were staff relations, recruitment and training of paramedics, support given to responders and the use of private ambulances. More specifically, discussions included the forecoming likely increase in demand on the service during the winter months.

 

Peter Aldous MP said:

 

“It was helpful for me to obtain an update on the implementation of the turnaround strategy. Whilst significant challenges remain ahead, I am grateful to chairman of EEAST for providing further information on his plans for the ambulance service. We will keep in regular contact over the coming weeks and I would encourage any constituents with comments or concerns about the service to let me know so that I can pass them onto Dr Harris. I am also planning on going out with ambulance crews in January so that I can see for myself the challenges that hardworking frontline staff are facing.”

 

Chairman of the East of England Ambulance Service, Dr Geoffrey Harris said:

 

“I am committed to working with Peter, and MPs across the region, to ensure they have the latest progress reports from the service. Transforming the organisation is going to take time, although we have seen some progress such as reduced sickness levels. However, recruiting paramedics is proving extremely challenging due to a national shortage of paramedics. We are exploring all avenues of recruitment and aiming to put an extra 100 paramedics onto the front line from within existing staff.”