BBC News: ‘East of England Ambulance Service smashes government target’

The BBC delved into life behind the blue lights yesterday (30^th November) as part of national ‘ambulance day’ looking into pressure on the 999 service. 

Correspondents joined ambulance teams across the UK, including here at EEAST, to shine a light on the huge increase in 999 demand, the impact of hospital handover delays, and the amazing work of staff and volunteers. 

With special behind the scenes access to our service, BBC journalists covered an ambulance ride-out and reported live from our emergency control rooms, as well as sharing EEAST updates on the national feed on the BBC News website – one of which read ‘East of England Ambulance Service smashes government target’! 

A huge thank you to Sheena Bumphrey and Stuart Bratchell in Colchester, Sharon Weeks and John Stones at Longwater, and Mark Chapman and Greg Sage in Peterborough, who welcomed BBC journalists on board their shifts; and to Kevin Brown, Karl Edwards, Terry Hicks, Steve Segasby, and Simon King, who did live BBC radio interviews across the patch to tell the public about what we do – and what challenges we face. 

Chris Hartley, Communications Director, said: “I’d like to thank all our staff and volunteers who got involved and supported us ahead of and on the day itself as it was fantastic to be able to showcase EEAST on the national stage. The coverage has been really well received by the public, and we hope it will go some way to highlighting the challenges that not just we, but ambulance services across the UK, face every day. 

“I also want to say a thank you on behalf of our team to Media Officer Adam Gretton, who put a huge amount of work and effort into making sure the day ran smoothly for everyone involved.” 

You can take a look back at the coverage, ‘A day in the life of the ambulance service - as it happened’, on the BBC News website, or listen/watch our BBC interviews from the day whilst they’re still available on iPlayer: 

• The mental health street triage project on BBC Online
• The EEAST feature on BBC Look East, featuring Chelmsford EOC and Colchester crew Sheena and Stuart.
• Karl Edwards, Deputy Director of Service Delivery, on BBC Radio Essex (1hr 12m into programme), and BBC Radio Suffolk (1hr 7m into programme)
• Terry Hicks, Sector Head, on BBC Radio Norfolk (1hr 37m into programme)
• Simon King, Sector Head, on BBC Three Counties (2hrs 6m into programme)
• Stephen Segasby, Sector Head, on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (2hrs 7m into programme)

And finally, the things the BBC said it had learnt from the day and wanted to share? Here’s their list… 

• The number of 999 calls has trebled in the past decade – London recorded its highest number of calls in history in November 

• But the volume isn’t the only pressure facing ambulance services across the country 

• Calls from people who don’t need a paramedic are still common – calls today included needing a glass of water, a cold and a cat bite 

• Handover times need to be quicker – Betty Smith in Yorkshire said when she was taken to hospital there were 14 ambulances lined up ahead of her 

• However, people still have a lot of praise for paramedics who work hard to look after the patients – Emma Sealey called them "angels in green" 

• They face abuse - like John, who has had a knife pulled on him twice, but he still loves the job, saying "it’s about making a difference" 

• If you call 999, you will always be taken seriously and an ambulance will come in an emergency – but think whether you can use another service, 111, your GP, a walk-in centre or pharmacist, to relieve some of the pressure, or, even better, learn first aid. 

What did you think of the coverage across the day? Leave a comment below!

Published 1^st December, 2016