Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Covid-19: Military aid to Civil Authorities

08 February 2022 · 2 other contributors · 3,534 words

Opened by Chris Loder Con West Dorset

Responding minister: Edward Argar

DefenceNHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Chris Loder raised concerns about covid-19: military aid to civil authorities in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Mr Chris Loder expressed deep concern about extended wait times for ambulances during the COVID-19 outbreak, highlighting urgent cases such as strokes and broken hips.
  • The South Western Ambulance Service requested military assistance but received only 18 soldiers for logistics and equipment replenishment, with no clinicians or drivers provided.
  • Mr Loder urged the Government to review and improve systems for Military Aid to Civil Authorities requests to ensure greater clarity and support for civilian services under high demand.

Key requests to Government

Mr Loder urged the Government to review and improve the systems surrounding MACA (Military Aid to Civil Authorities) requests to ensure that civilian services like ambulance services can expect greater clarity on levels of support, especially when there are no alternatives available. He suggested a more structured role for volunteer organisations such as St John Ambulance in supporting emergency services.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Chris Loder Con West Dorset

Mr Chris Loder expressed deep concern about the pressures on ambulance services during the COVID-19 outbreak. He highlighted numerous cases of constituents waiting for extended periods for ambulances, often in urgent or critical situations such as after a stroke or a broken hip. The South Western Ambulance Service's request for military assistance was only partially fulfilled, with 18 soldiers supporting logistics and equipment replenishment but no clinicians or drivers provided despite the service experiencing high demand and absenteeism.

Other contributors (2)
  • James Davies Con

    Mr James Davies commended the armed forces for their dedication and support during crises, expressing surprise at the limited military assistance provided to the South Western Ambulance Service despite a significant demand and readiness from the MoD.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Mr Shannon thanked the hon. Gentleman for initiating an important debate, highlighting the invaluable support provided by Army medics in hospitals during the pandemic, specifically mentioning current assistance given by 50 to 60 medics at the Ulster Hospital. Inquired about the possibility of using the Territorial Army medical corps on the mainland to address staffing shortages, referencing Northern Ireland's TA medical regiment based in Belfast.

Government Response

Edward Argar

It is a pleasure, as ever, to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for West Dorset (Chris Loder) on securing this debate, and I pay tribute to him for the manner in which he conveyed some challenging personal experiences on the part of his constituents and others. Ambulance services have faced extraordinary pressures over the past 18 months, with infection prevention measures, delays in hospital handovers, and staff absence contributing to a 22% increase in calls answered in December 2021 compared to December 2020. Despite these challenges, performance for category 1 calls has largely been maintained at around nine minutes on average over the last several months. The UK government invested £55 million to manage winter pressures, increasing call handling and operational response capacity by boosting staff numbers by 700. NHS England is also investing in health and wellbeing support for ambulance trusts and undertaking targeted support for hospitals with delays, including a £4.4 million capital investment to keep an additional 154 ambulances on the road this winter. Regarding military aid, while the military played a crucial role during the pandemic, their capacity for specific requests such as clinically qualified Army medics or blue-light ambulance drivers is limited. The Ministry of Defence provides support in logistics and non-driving roles, with 366 personnel currently supporting ambulance services. While acknowledging the military's assistance, the minister emphasised that long-term investment in healthcare systems is crucial to address ongoing challenges.

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