More ambulance funding and resources in Lincolnshire

A partnership of county organisations have pledged extra money and improvements for Lincolnshire ambulance services.

At a meeting on Wednesday, November 7, chief officers in health and emergency services developed a series of changes to be rolled out across the county.

As reported previously, an extra £9 million will be invested into improving the standards of East Midlands Ambulance Service, potentially rising to £19 million next year.

Some 39 new ambulances will be provided in the county.

Organisations at the health summit meeting all signed up to a Joint Statement of Intent with East Midlands Ambulance Service which agreed:

• EMAS will commit more resource in Lincolnshire and to appoint a new lead officer for the county to provide a kore responsive service
• New Lincolnshire branding on ambulances to demonstrate a commitment by EMAS to work “in and for the people of Lincolnshire”
• Partners will work together to help residents access the right services, in the right place, at the right time.
• Reduce inappropriate hospital admission by encouraging the use of community-based services
• Continued commitment to greater collaboration between the blue light services to provide the best coherent services to the people of Lincolnshire

New falls response service

Patricia Bradwell and Martin Hill as LCC pledged extra funding to ambulance services

Lincolnshire County Council has now committed to £300,000 of investment to develop a ‘falls response’ pilot, which is hoped to improve the speed of response to someone who has fallen and allow EMAS to prioritise more life-threatening calls.

It’s expected to be up and running before Christmas with impacts monitored and improvements made by Spring 2019.

Funding will be taken from government help to councils to deal with winter pressures.

Councillor Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “I very much welcome the additional resource that health commissioners and East Midlands Ambulance Service have committed, which will provide 39 new ambulances in the county, and their work to provide a more bespoke service in Lincolnshire.”

Councillor Patricia Bradwell, executive councillor for adult health and care at the county council, added: “As well as people getting the care they need more quickly, there will be benefits to the whole health and care system, avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions and allowing ambulances to go to where they are most needed in the county.”

Richard Henderson, Chief Executive at East Midlands Ambulance Service said: “To keep delivering better clinical outcomes, all agencies will work more collaboratively. At EMAS, we are investing in new ambulances and equipment for Lincolnshire, and are progressing well with our recruitment campaign to increase the number of clinicians that we have working on the frontline.”

Policing knock-on

Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones. Photo: Lincolnshire Reporter

Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commiossioner Marc Jones, who has been critical of EMAS’ performance in the county, said:“I have always been clear that partnership working is crucial if we are to improve the lives of our residents and keep our communities safe.

“This commitment demonstrates what can be achieved when we pull together and I am confident this is a very positive step forward in helping the ambulance service provide the kind of response we have been striving for.

“I look forward to this agreement delivering concrete projects and changes which will benefit us all.”

Mr Jones welcomed the additional resource that health commissioners and EMAS have dedicated to the county, and said better ambulance response times would help police officers who were often left waiting with injured victims.

“The knock on positive effect on policing will also be important. Better response times will cut down on wasted hours and allow officers to deliver a more effective service too,” he said.

The joint statement is the first step in partners working together and a more formal agreement will be drawn up and signed next year.