East: Ambulance Service Review

15 March 2013, 11:16 | Updated: 15 March 2013, 12:50

A trouble-shooter has been sent in to the East of England Ambulance Service, following criticism of the service.

The Department of Health is sending in the CEO of the ambulance trust in the West Midlands to carry out a review of the service.

It follows complaints about ambulance response times across the East.

A statement from the East of England Ambulance Service reads: "Anthony Marsh is carrying out a review on behalf of the Trust to gain an independent insight into what we do, how we do it and most importantly how we could improve our service. 

His focus will be how to get quick results to ease pressure, in particular improving performance in emergency operations. 

Interim Chief Executive Andrew Morgan and Chair Maria Ball met Anthony last Friday and Andrew has helped Anthony with details on key issues and contacts.

It is hoped at this stage that the review will be completed by the end of April."

Health Minister Lord Howe said: "There have been concerns about the performance of this ambulance service for some time. 

Whilst the management team have put measures in place to address these issues, I believe it is essential that a review now takes place to examine whether these actions are both adequate and soundly based. 

Having met with local MPs and ambulance staff in recent weeks, I am in no doubt that this is the right course of action to ensure that patients and the public in the East of England get the high standard of emergency service that they are entitled to expect."