The extreme temperature this week has made life challenging for many of us and was the first time in its history that the Met Office has issued a red warning for extreme heat. So, it’s sadly not surprising there’s been massive travel disruption, significant fires, and schools closing.
The hot weather has been testing for our emergency services, who, as always, have responded brilliantly to support us all. I want to express my thanks to all the blue light services, and especially the fire service, for their bravery and hard work in tackling the vast blazes that have arisen across the country.
Our Ambulance Service, in particular, has not welcomed the hot weather as they were already under pressure managing busy A&E departments and staff absences from Covid there’s been an added strain. This week the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care outlined some of the work we, as a government, are doing to address these pressures and improve service provision across the country. As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, a range of initiatives designed to ensure the service is well supported and functioning efficiently are being brought in. These include working with Commissioners to put in place timely responses so patients can be treated by skilled paramedics at home or in a more appropriate setting outside of hospital.
A big challenge is staffing. In response, there is a concerted effort ongoing to increase ambulance staff numbers – already up by 38% since 2010. Recruitment is being backed up by a further £55 million to boost staff numbers and increase the capacity of available ambulances to respond to patients.
I am due to meet with South East Coast Ambulance Service at the end of this week to better understand the pressures across our area in particular, and work out what more we can do to support them locally.
Things have also been heating up in Westminster as we are down to the final two candidates for Leader of the Conservative Party and our next Prime Minister. I am backing Rishi Sunak, and if you want to know more about why visit my website: www.gilliankeegan.com
