London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 25, 2023

East of England Ambulance Service: 'If we are queuing, we can't get to patients'

East of England Ambulance Service: 'If we are queuing, we can't get to patients'

Paramedics describe a health service in crisis with a lack of investment and increasing demand, of lengthy waits to transfer patients to hospitals and of a social care system facing collapse. So what does a typical ambulance shift look like?

The area covered by the East of England Ambulance Service's nearly 400 front-line ambulances is vast.

It is responsible for more than six million people over a 7,500 sq mile (19,424 sq km) area, which includes Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.

The BBC joined one of the service's ambulance crews for a 12-hour shift, to see the work they do and to hear their concerns about the current state of the health service at large.


'It is very reassuring'


Pat Clarke has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and breast cancer


The first call-out received by the Gorleston-based crew in Norfolk is for a patient in cardiac arrest.

However, after putting on the blue lights, the crew is stood down and later diverted down to Oulton Broad in Suffolk to check on 82-year-old Pat Clarke.

Ambulance call outs are categorised into four levels of seriousness, from Category 1, involving life threatening conditions, to Category 4, which is a non-urgent problem that requires transportation to a hospital or clinic.

This is a Category 2 call-out, which means it is a serious condition such as a stroke or chest pain.

The crew arrives within 30 minutes of the call coming in.

Ms Clarke has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and breast cancer. Her carer, Chloe Tiborcz, was concerned about Ms Clarke so dialled 111.

Chloe Tiborcz was worried about Ms Clarke's condition so called 111


"I came in this morning and Pat was very breathless and had a cough as well, so I called the ambulance," Ms Tiborcz says. "They came pretty quickly - within half an hour.

"It is very reassuring - I had a lady who had to wait eight hours pretty recently."

The paramedic crew says Ms Clarke could have been dealt with by a visit from her GP. But with GPs sometimes having to see up to 60 patients a day, they no longer have the resources to do such visits.

As it is, Ms Clarke does not need a hospital visit and is left to recuperate at home.


'Do one job at a time'


Ed Wisken has been a paramedic for 13 years.

An advanced paramedic specialising in urgent care, Mr Wisken says: "It is really sad to see patients who have had to wait such a long time for an ambulance - but this is just the culmination of years of underfunding and of reduced resources peaking now where demand outstrips supply."

"It is upsetting to see it," he says. "It is not nice to see people who have been waiting hours and hours for an ambulance - but we have really hit crisis point now."


He says the morale of fellow paramedics and other healthcare workers is currently very low.

"The key is you just have to do just one job at a time and just take the patients that you see and do the best for them," he says.

"If you worry about the bigger picture too much you will get frustrated and angry - but that's not going to be beneficial for yourself or your patients."


A suspected stroke
Paramedics tend to 97-year-old Eva Denny who has been mostly in bed since she was released from hospital


From Oulton Broad, the crew is then called to Thorpe St Andrew, near Norwich, to see 97-year-old Eva Denny.

The emergency services were called because those around her feared she may have had a stroke.

Family friend Yvonne Pechey says Ms Denny recently spent five weeks in hospital. During her stay, she went from being able to get around using her walking frame to losing the use of her legs.

Family friend Yvonne Pechey says Ms Denny recently spent five weeks in hospital


The paramedics check Ms Denny over and find she has an infection.

Antibiotics are prescribed, but the crew has to wait more than 90 minutes for a GP to call them back to discuss medicine and a plan for Ms Denny's future care.

The GP wants to have her taken to hospital, but the family says given her previous deterioration in hospital they want her to stay put.

Instead, Ms Denny's infection will be managed at home.


'Only deal with the here and now'
Anna Savage, an emergency medical technician, says she "kind of stumbled" into the ambulance service


Anna Savage is a former estate agent who "kind of stumbled" into the ambulance service.

An emergency medical technician, Ms Savage says she applied to the East of England Ambulance Service after speaking with friends already working there.

"I thought it would suit me, not being in an office job but being out and about and I haven't looked back," she says. "I enjoy it and I want to keep going."

"Every day is different," she says. "I knew it could be a strain on you and your family life and I wasn't under any illusions.

"Delays at the moment are a big challenge for us to deal with."

She says she senses the frustration felt by patients and their loved ones experiencing ambulance delays.

"And we can't really give them an answer either, we can only deal with the here and now and each situation."

She wants the service to find a way of reducing such delays.


'The seizures are so severe'
Max is taken straight to the children's assessment ward at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital


The third call takes the crew to a house near Wroxham, in Norfolk, where nine-year-old Max has complex epilepsy.

He experiences up to 30 fits each day.

His mother, Amy, administers midazolam as prescribed but, because it is strong medication, Max needs monitoring.

The crew takes him straight to the children's assessment ward at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

Max's mother Amy says knowing the ambulance service would be there for her son gives her reassurance


Amy says dealing with Max's condition is "really difficult".

"They still don't really know why he has these seizures," she says. "It impacts on his quality of life and on our family life.

"He's under a professor in the United States and is having tests at Great Ormond Street, but it is really hard when someone cannot tell you what is wrong with your child.

"They don't know why his medicine does not control his seizures, so he can't live a normal life at the moment.

"The seizures are so severe that they always require medical intervention and he spends the majority of his life in a hospital.

"It is really tough."

On this occasion, both a land ambulance and the East of England Air Ambulance were sent to Max's aid.

"Being surrounded by people who are able to help him in that situation makes me feel a bit safer, because I just panic like any mum or dad would."


'We can't get to patients'
Leading operations manager Stuart Knight says delays outside hospitals are not good


Stuart Knight is the leading operations manager at Gorleston ambulance station.

"We are experiencing handover delays at the hospital, which is obviously impacting wider in the community. It is a national pressure at the minute.

"Our crews are late off and it impacts on our vehicle availability for the next day.

"They can be anywhere from Cambridge to Ipswich, so they are driving a hell of a lot of miles and, if they are late off on top of that due to delays or if they get a late job, then that impacts on the following day because obviously they need an adequate rest period before they come in for their [next] shift.

"We've got welfare ideas to help staff and we are working with colleagues in the hospital to try and reduce delays.

"The last thing we want is for patients to be stuck in the back of an ambulance for 10 to 12 hours. It is not great for patients, it is not great for the crew. When that happens we can't get to patients in the community."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Nobody should have to wait longer than necessary for emergency care, which is why we are taking urgent action to support services.

"This includes an extra £500m to speed up hospital discharge and free up beds - the details of which were announced on Wednesday - getting ambulances back on the road more quickly, delivering 50,000 more nurses, increasing the number of NHS 999 and 111 call handlers and creating the equivalent of at least 7,000 more beds."

Newsletter

Related Articles

London Daily
Close
0:00
0:00
Paper straws found to contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals - study
You Are So Beautiful
FTX's Bankman-Fried headed for jail after judge revokes bail
Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
Blackrock gets half a trillion dollar deal to rebuild Ukraine
An old French tune (by Georges Brassens) Pomplamoose ft. John Schroeder
Steve Jobs' Son Launches Venture Capital Firm With $200 Million For Cancer Treatments
Sattahip Motor Show 20
Greek PM offers tourists affected by wildfires a free stay in Rhodes next year.
SONATE AU CLAIR DE LUNE - Moonlight sonata
Google reshuffles Assistant unit, lays off some staffers, to 'supercharge' products with A.I.
A kiss to build a dream on
End of Viagra? FDA approved a gel against erectile dysfunction
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
UK sanctions Russians judges over dual British national Kara-Murza's trial
Mean Blues
US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns
La Chansonnette
America's First New Nuclear Reactor in Nearly Seven Years Begins Operations
Pattaya Addicts
Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
Franz Liszt - Liebestraum - Love Dream
Political leader from South Africa, Julius Malema, led violent racist chants at a massive rally on Saturday
Dream a little dream of me
Today Hunter Biden’s best friend and business associate, Devon Archer, testified that Joe Biden met in Georgetown with Russian Moscow Mayor's Wife Yelena Baturina who later paid Hunter Biden $3.5 million in so called “consulting fees”
Unchained Melody sung like you've NEVER heard!
How “peacekeepers” at the UN spend our American tax dollars.
Dave Brubeck - Take Five
'I am not your servant': IndiGo crew member, passenger get into row over airline meal
Édith Piaf - Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (Sofie)
Singapore Carries Out First Execution of a Woman in Two Decades Amid Capital Punishment Debate
Rondo Alla Turca
Spanish Citizenship Granted to Iranian chess player who removed hijab
Kiss of fire
US Senate Republican Mitch McConnell freezes up, leaves press conference
Tom Jones - I´ll Never Fall In Love Again 1967, 1989, 2001
Speaker McCarthy says the United States House of Representatives is getting ready to impeach Joe Biden.
Israel Cachao López - Guajira Clásica
San Francisco car crash
Edward Maya - Stereo Love (feat. Vika Jigulina) (Extended Mix)
This camera man is a genius
Strauss - Radetzky March - Karajan
3D ad in front of Burj Khalifa
La vie en rose
Next level gaming
The Temptations - My Girl (Smokey Robinson Tribute) 2006 Kennedy Cent
BMW driver…
Orlando Cachaito Lopez Redencion
Google testing journalism AI. We are doing it already 2 years, and without Google biased propoganda and manipulated censorship
Edith Piaf - NON, JE NE REGRETTE RIEN
Unlike illegal imigrants coming by boats - US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024
RADETZKY MARCH-2008-Wien, New Year Concert
Musk announces Twitter name and logo change to X.com
Only you (And you alone)
The future of sport
Strangers In The Night
New York City Agrees to Compensate Demonstrators Subjected to Excessive Force and Unlawful Arrests Amidst Widespread Protests
Charles Aznavour - La Boheme
Paul Simon: "I can't perform anymore due to hearing loss"
Summer time
The politician and the journalist lost control and started fighting on live broadcast.
Sting and Stevie Wonder - Fragile (from Sting's 60th birthday concert)
The future of sports
Aux Champs Elysees
Unveiling the Black Hole: The Mysterious Fate of EU's Aid to Ukraine
Stand By Me - Ben E. King (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Farewell to a Music Titan: Tony Bennett, Renowned Jazz and Pop Vocalist, Passes Away at 96
La Mer (Beyond the Sea) – Avalon Jazz Band
Alarming Behavior Among Florida's Sharks Raises Concerns Over Possible Cocaine Exposure
She
Transgender Exclusion in Miss Italy Stirs Controversy Amidst Changing Global Beauty Pageant Landscape
Nathalie Song by Enzo Petrachi Stjepan Hauser Cello
Joe Biden admitted, in his own words, that he delivered what he promised in exchange for the $10 million bribe he received from the Ukraine Oil Company.
Shape of My Heart - Sting (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Swedish Embassy in Baghdad Engulfed in Flames Amidst a Firestorm of Protests
Radiohead - Creep
TikTok Takes On Spotify And Apple, Launches Own Music Service
Quizás,Quizás,Quizás - Andrea Bocelli - Jennifer Lopez
Global Trend: Using Anti-Fake News Laws as Censorship Tools - A Deep Dive into Tunisia's Scenario
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps - Multi-Couples
Arresting Putin During South African Visit Would Equate to War Declaration, Asserts President Ramaphosa
Pentatonix Havana
House of Commons rejects nine significant amendments from the Unelected, Privilaged House of Lord - Overturn Crucial Migration Bill Amendments in a Bid to Curb Unauthorized Maritime Immigration
Paula Cole - Autumn Leaves
Hacktivist Collective Anonymous Launches 'Project Disclosure' to Unearth Information on UFOs and ETIs
Oscar Benton Bensonhurst Blues
Typo sends millions of US military emails to Russian ally Mali
OH NANANA vs ABUSADAMENTE
Muslim Tycoon Asif Aziz Receives Approval for the Transformation of the iconic London Trocadero Landmark into Mosque
Nina Simone - ”I Put A Spell On You”. Vezi aici cum cântă Jeremy Ragsd
Server Arrested For Theft After Refusing To Pay A Table's $100 Restaurant Bill When They Dined & Dashed
NIGHTWISH - The Phantom Of The Opera
The Changing Face of Europe: How Mass Migration is Reshaping the Political Landscape
Motorshow 2016 Tanjay Negros Oriental
China Urges EU to Clarify Strategic Partnership Amid Trade Tensions
Monica Bellucci - Ti Amo
Europe is boiling: Extreme Weather Conditions Prevail Across the Continent
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean Milena The Voice France 2018
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Hospitalized Due to Dehydration Amidst Summer Heatwave
Michael Buble (Help Me Make It Through The Night) feat Loren Allred
Memories Canon In D - Maroon 5 (Boyce Avenue piano acoustic cover)
Matteo Simoni - Marina
Maroon 5 - One More Night
Maroon 5 - Memories
Mark Knopfler - Brothers In Arms (Berlin 2007 Live)
Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - Romeo And Juliet (Real Live Roadrunni
Marina, Marina - The LUCKY DUCKIES intimist live concert at Guimarães
Major Lazer & DJ Snake – Lean On Mauranne The Voice France 2016
Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet - Joslin - Henri Mancini, Nino Rota
LoLa & Hauser - Love Story
Linkin Park Jay-Z - Numb Encore (Live 8 2005)
Hallelujah Mennel Ibtissem, The Voice France Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love
Leonard Cohen & Natasha Rostova - Dance me to the end of love
La casa de papel - Bella Ciao
La Camisa Negra
L'italiano (Toto Cutugno) - The Gypsy Queens
Juanes - La Camisa Negra
Jonathan and Charlotte - Britain's Got Talent 2012 Live Semi Final - U
John Powell - Assassin's Tango
Joe Cocker - You Can Leave Your Hat On (LIVE in Dortmund)
Joe Cocker - Unchain My Heart 2002 Live
Joe Cocker - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Jay Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind LIVE
Jason Mraz - Im Yours (live)
Jarrod Radnich - Bohemian Rhapsody - Virtuosic Piano Solo
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
James Blunt - You're Beautiful & Bonfire Heart (Live at The Nobel Peac)
If You Go Away - Helen Merrill & Stan Getz (Tribute to Virna Lisi)
I'LL BE MISSING YOU
I Say a Little Prayer
Hotel California ( Eagles ) 1994 Live
Historia de un amor - Luz Casal. Vezi interpretarea Biancăi Sumanariu
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover) on Spot
Heart - Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin - Kennedy Center Honors
HAVANA by Camila Cabello Zumba Pre Cooldown TML Crew Kramer Pastra
HAUSER and Señorita - I Will Always Love You
HAUSER - Waka Waka
HAUSER - Sway
HAUSER - Lambada
HAUSER - Historia de un Amor
HAUSER - Despacito
Great Pretender
Georgia May Foote & Giovanni Pernice Samba to 'Volare' - Strictly Come
Gary Moore - Still Got The Blues
GIPSY KINGS VOLARE Penelope Cruz
Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song
French Latino - Historia de un Amor
For A Few Dollars More The Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Live)
Flashdance • What a Feeling • Irene Cara
Filip Rudan - “Someone You Loved” Audicija 4 The Voice Hrvatska Sez
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
Enya - Only Time
Enrique Iglesias - Bailando (English Version) ft. Sean Paul
Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos
Elena Yerevan Historia de un amor
Ed Sheeran - Shape of You (Official Music Video)
Ed Sheeran - Perfect Symphony [with Andrea Bocelli]
Ed Sheeran - Perfect (Official Music Video)
Easy On Me - Adele (Boyce Avenue 90’s style piano acoustic cover) on S
ERA - Ameno
ELENA YEREVAN- Cancion Del Mariachi-IN STUDIO-2017 DPR
Dust In The Wind - Kansas (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Despacito x Shape Of You - Pentatonix
Deep Purple - Child In Time - Live (1970)
David Foster When A Man Loves A WomanIt's A Mans World (SealMichael Bo
Dance me to the end of Love ( Pi-Air Design )
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.) [Official Music Video]
Conquest Of Paradise (Vangelis), played on Böhm Emporio organ
Cielito Lindo
Chico & The Gypsies - Bamboleo
Canción Del Mariachi - Antonio Banderas, Los Lobos • Desperado
Camila Cabello - Havana (Audio) ft. Young Thug
Camila Cabello - Havana ( cover by J.Fla )
California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas José Feliciano (Boyce Ave
Buster Benton - Money Is The Name of The Game
Hallelujah Pentatonix
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy (Official Music Video)
Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door Emilia The Voice Kids France
Besame Mucho - Cesaria Evora
Ben E. King - Stand by Me Sax Cover Alexandra Ilieva Thomann
Bella Ciao
Bella Ciao - INSTRUMENTAL
Beautiful in White x Canon in D (Piano Cover by Riyandi Kusuma)
Bad Romance - Vintage 1920's Gatsby Style Lady Gaga Cover ft. Ariana Savalas & Sarah Reich(1)
BELLA CIAO 2020 - KARAOKE ITALIANO
BAMBOLEO - Gipsy Kings • Antonio Banderas, Katya Virshilas
BAILANDO (original)
Awesome Ukrainian yodeler - SOFIA SHKIDCHENKO (with English subtitles)
Avicii - The Nights
Atom - The Great Gig in the Sky
Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Official Ly
Antonio Banderas - Cancion del Mariachi (Desperado)
André Rieu - Zorba's Dance (Sirtaki)
André Rieu - Can't Help Falling In Love
André Rieu & Mirusia - Ave Maria
Andrew Reyes Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down The Voice 2020 (
Andreas Kümmert Whiter Shade Of Pale The Voice of Germany 2013 Showd
And I Love You So
All About That Bass - Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
Alan Walker - Faded (Piano Cover)
Ain't No Sunshine -- Bill Withers (cover by Canen 12 y.o.)
African music
Adriana Vidović - “Creep” Audicija 4 The Voice Hrvatska Sezona 3
Adriana Vidović - “Believer” Nokaut 3 The Voice Hrvatska Sezona 3
A Fistful of Dollars - The Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Tuva
4 Beautiful Soundtracks Relaxing Piano [10min]
2CELLOS - Whole Lotta Love vs. Beethoven 5th Symphony [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
2CELLOS - Smooth Criminal (Live at Suntory Hall, Tokyo)
2CELLOS - Smells Like Teen Spirit [Live at Sydney Opera House]
2CELLOS - Despacito [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
13 Year Old Girl Playing Il Silenzio (The Silence) - André Rieu
094.All About That Bass
00 - SADNESS PART 1
(Ghost) Riders In the Sky (American Outlaws Live at Nassau Coliseum, 1
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams (Boyce Avenue ft. Conn
What a wonderful world
Moon river
×