Update from Anthony Marsh - 30th October

Since January we have made excellent progress on the multitude of challenges that we faced when I joined EEAST. Our chronic lack of paramedics had huge consequences for the organisation, and we have really focussed on employing hundreds more clinicians through our student paramedic and direct entry programmes to support our current staff.

However I know there is still much to be done, in particular to support our ECPs. I have spoken to many ECPs recently and I understand how you are feeling. Please be assured that I remain committed to progressing the paramedic profession with ECPs and CCPs, but we need our Clinical Commissioning Groups to provide additional funding for this to happen and we continue to liaise with them on this subject. I am also confident that as the national urgent and emergency care review progresses, ambulance staff will play an even more important role in caring for patients in the community, which will require the additional skills that ECPs have.

I am also very pleased that MP Andrew Selous has written about his visit to Leighton Buzzard station in his latest blog for the Luton on Sunday. Andrew wrote of the staff he met: “I have nothing but the highest admiration for the work they do and the care, professionalism and good humour with which they do it.” Well done to everyone who was involved in Andrew’s visit. 

As we approach the winter activity is increasing, which is normal for this time of year, but I do recognise that although we have recruited over 600 new frontline staff, they are not all operational yet and therefore we all remain under pressure. The light at the end of this very long tunnel is getting closer so in the meantime please accept my thanks for everything you continue to do to help improve our service. Please be assured you continue to have my full support.

Published 30th October 2014