I recently got to visit the Longwater East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) site to meet with paramedics and ambulance staff alongside the CEO and some of the executive staff.
On my visit I was able to speak directly to staff who work in the frontline of the emergency services. I am grateful to have heard their experiences and to have been able to listen to their concerns.
Some of these concerns included:
– Ambulance wait times
– Increased demand of mental health patients and the subsequent impact on staff
– Hospital handover delays
I was able to raise concerns that staff mentioned to me to the executive team directly, and I am working with several unions to make sure the wellbeing and concerns of frontline staff remain to be heard. Their work is integral and their voices should be listened to.
I was also able to look inside the new fleet of ambulance vehicles, which are being rolled out across Norwich and Norfolk