House of Commons · Westminster Hall
06 March 2025 · 10 other contributors · 11,090 words
Opened by Sarah Dyke Lib Dem Glastonbury and Somerton
Responding minister: Ashley Dalton
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Sarah Dyke raised concerns about ambulance response times in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
The Liberal Democrats demand localised data on ambulance delays and focused support for underperforming rural areas like Somerset to improve response times. They have called for a review of hospital handover policies and the adoption of innovative measures such as trial handovers in Nottingham to address these issues.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Unacceptable ambulance response times have led to an estimated 50,000 deaths last year after long A&E waits. In Glastonbury and Somerton, residents faced horrific delays in receiving emergency care, with some waiting up to 13 hours for an ambulance. Ambulance staff are also experiencing burnout, with the NHS staff survey showing that 39% of respondents often or always felt burnt out.
Discussed plans to improve ambulance response times and reduce hospital handovers, addressing challenges in rural areas.
Secured this important debate on ambulance response times to highlight issues faced by constituents in need of urgent medical care and discuss the importance of investing in health and social care systems.
66.6% of ambulances at Worcestershire Royal hospital were left waiting longer than 30 minutes in the first week of January 2025, with only 50% of patients treated within four hours and over 1,300 ambulance patients waiting more than an hour outside.
Paid tribute to ambulance services for their work, highlighted the unique challenges faced in rural areas due to delayed response times. Raised concern over a constituent's traumatic experience of waiting 12 hours for an ambulance. Inquired about the impact of national insurance contributions on social care provision.
The Liberal Democrat spokesperson mentioned the importance of resources for rural areas to ensure faster response times and suggested that higher levels of resource might be needed due to geographical challenges. Asked the Minister about social care's role in reducing hospital handover delays.
Welcomed the trial of 45-minute handovers at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham and asked if the hon. Member supports such trials to address challenges described.
Labour’s Budget unlocked £22.6 billion in funding for the NHS, but staff shortages remain a critical issue. Between 2022 and 2023, nearly 7,000 paramedics left their jobs—a 51% increase from 2019-2020. Paramedics are overworked due to underfunding and lack of support. He highlighted the issue of burnout among staff in the ambulance service.
He pointed out the huge regional variations and inequality of service for people living in very rural areas. Discussed the financial impact of increased national insurance on air ambulance charities, questioning if exemptions could be made for such vital services, and requested a response from the Department regarding their letter.
Thanked all hon. Members for contributions, urged the Government to publish localised ambulance data, reduce hospital bed occupancy rates to 85%, introduce a new winter taskforce with £1.5 billion ringfenced fund.
In Wolverhampton West, ambulance response times are managed by the West Midlands Ambulance Service, which received a regulation 12 notice for response times in January this year.
Government Response
Ashley DaltonThe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Acknowledged the points raised by all Members participating in the debate, committed to meeting with the hon. Member for West Suffolk to address his concerns, and promised to ensure a response from the Treasury regarding exemptions for air ambulances under national insurance hikes. Discussed investments in NHS, including £26 billion extra funding to improve urgent care services. Addressed issues like ambulance response times, hospital handovers, and the need for social care reform, noting plans to reduce delays and improve community health services.