MPs slam East of England Ambulance Service’s ‘incompetence’

Posted: 26/06/2013

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) has come in for scathing criticism in a parliamentary debate.

MPs in East Anglia told Health Minister Anna Soubry of their concerns about trust managers, although frontline crews were praised. Priti Patel, Conservative MP for Witham, said: "Scandal and incompetence [at the EEAS] has put lives at risk."

This latest criticism follows an independent report released earlier this month following concerns over the trust's performance. The report revealed there was a lack of accountability throughout the organisation and made 24 specific recommendations, including cutting back on management to pay for more emergency crews.

EEAS said the capability of the trust's board members was under review and it had started to improve response times. The EEAS covers Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Guy Forster, clinical negligence specialist at Penningtons Solicitors LLP, commented: “The independent report released earlier this month makes for deeply concerning reading. The public needs to have confidence that any reorganisation and change to the way in which the East of England Ambulance Service operates will have a real impact on response times and standards of care and that everything is being done to ensure patient safety.”

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