A Somerset MP recently joined a shift with an ambulance crew to gain insight into their challenges.
Sarah Dyke, the Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, spent the day with the South Western Ambulance Service (SWASFT) on Monday, September 29.
She worked the shift with emergency ambulance associate, Lyndsey Locke, and paramedic, Liz McCabe.
Ms Dyke learned about the pressures the crew face, including hospital handover delays.
The SWASFT serves more than 5.7m people over a 10,000 square mile area, accounting for 20 per cent of mainland England.
However, one of the main issues the service faces is delays in patient handovers at hospitals, which contribute to longer response times and fewer available ambulances.
After the shift, Ms Dyke said: "It was a real privilege to join Lyndsey and Liz for the day and see first-hand the professionalism, compassion and dedication that our ambulance crews demonstrate under immense pressure.
"The stories I heard highlighted just how stretched the service has become, particularly in rural areas where wait times are typically higher than the rest of the country.
"It’s clear delays in other parts of the health system, like getting a GP appointment, are pushing even more people to call 999 or visit A&E.
"We owe it to our ambulance staff and patients to put this right as a matter of urgency before the winter crisis hits.
"The dedication and sense of public service shown by SWASFT staff is truly remarkable.
"I’ll continue to campaign in Parliament to ensure they get the resources and support they need."
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