Daniel Zeichner MP Standing up for Cambridge
Daniel Zeichner, MP for Cambridge, has today responded to reports that the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) is looking at using volunteers and the military to plug staff shortages, calling on the Trust to rule out any such plans given the repercussions such a move could have on emergency care in the region.
Mr Zeichner said: “There is no doubt that our entire healthcare system is under huge pressure because of a series of mistakes made by central Government. Hospitals are bursting at the seams, waiting times are at unacceptable levels, staff are leaving the profession in droves and patients are made to wait in ambulances because there is simply no space in the hospital. We have a funding crisis on our hands and the ambulance service has been one of the victims, however, turning to volunteers and the military is not a solution and I hope that these were just wild ideas that will be quickly dismissed.”
“The ambulance service has been through a tough time, but the reputation of staff as caring and competent has shone through. With commissioners recently acknowledging that extra resources are needed, I appreciate that plans have to be made to see the region through what will be another challenging winter. But what an indictment it would be of this Government if a major public service had to admit that it simply can’t do the job.