SuffolkNews uses social media to explore how to address strain on East of England Ambulance Service
The ambulance service in this region has been under extreme strain in recent weeks, with more than 45,000 999 calls within the first fortnight of the year.
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) declared its highest alert level – Resource Emergency Action Plan (REAP) 4 – on December 31 as a result of the mounting pressure.
While this ceased on January 14, with the alert level now downgraded to REAP 3, the impact of the heightened pressure has rippled across the region.
SuffolkNews took to social media to discover people’s experiences of increased pressure on the service and spark a debate on potential solutions.
Some people detailed the hours-long waits to be treated while others suggested the public could do more to help. The possibilities of walk-in centres to expanded GPs were also raised.
The family:
A woman whose father has had repeated experience with the ambulance service in recent weeks, due to several falls at his nursing home, contacted SuffolkNews after our social media appeal.
She said ambulance waits were getting longer and longer.
On December 28, her father left his nursing home for West Suffolk Hospital and was kept in an ambulance for around 20 hours, alongside eight other ambulances in similar circumstances.
In the first six hours he was taken into the hospital for blood tests and an X-ray, before being returned to the ambulance.
His daughter said: “He's got dementia and several health issues, but apart from the fact that he was on a trolley and cold he had better care [in the ambulance] because he then had 2:1 care keeping an eye on his incontinence and timers set for his insulin, while the crew got him a sandwich and water and used their personal phone to call me and update me.
“I just think about all the people they could have been helping in that time, because the system is broken and there was nowhere for him. He was supposed to be admitted straight to a ward for IV antibiotics but had to wait for an A&E bed first.”
The paramedic:
SuffolkNews spoke to a paramedic, who wished to remain anonymous, about their frontline experience of the heightened pressure.
They said many calls were made for falls and minor ailments, because people were under the misconception going by ambulance would get patients seen quicker at hospital.
The paramedic said making your own way to hospital in many circumstances, particularly for falls, was quicker. They also highlighted pharmacists as a good resource for advice and medication.
They said: “You do not get seen quicker because you went by ambulance. You might be 30th in the queue for a GP call but do be patient and try your GP.
“The issue is, of course, hospitals not being expanded to serve a larger population, with no more GPs. The crews have no control where they go and they want to help but they need to go to those that need it first.
“They are working 12 hours plus, driving hundreds of miles. They do not want to be stuck outside emergency departments either.”
The MP:
Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket is a constituency with a unusual position on this matter as its MP – Dr Peter Prinsley – is a practicing surgeon.
He said the issues with the ambulance service were part of a wider problem which could be addressed by expanding and enhancing GPs and district nursing services.
“The service needs to be reconfigured,” he said. “What we see with the ambulance delays, we must remember is it is a symptom of a whole system that needs to be reimagined.
“It starts with the general practices. How does a patient that needs attention access care in a timely fashion?
“We could reconfigures some of the GPs as commuity health hubs so they have a greater range of services and longer hours.”
Dr Prinsley added he believed this was the position the Government was taking to address the matter.
The service:
EEAST received more than 46,000 999 calls during the REAP 4 period, from December 31 to January 14.
Simon Walsh, medical director, said demand had now reduced, but urged the public to only call for an ambulance in a genuine medical emergency.
He said: “The ambulance service experienced an extreme level of pressure during the Christmas and New Year period, which inevitably impacted on our response times and handover times at the region’s hospitals.
“Patients with urgent and immediately life-threatening conditions are our priority and many people will be able to get quicker treatment through their GP or by calling 111.
“We continue to work closely with health and social care partners in our unscheduled care co-ordination hubs across the region, directing patients to the most appropriate care to suit their needs. This allows us to keep ambulances available for those most in need and avoids unnecessary hospital admissions.”
