East Midlands Ambulance Service welcomes military support
60 armed forces personnel will help the service with non-emergency patients
Sixty military personnel are going to support the East Midlands Ambulance Service with responding to non-emergency patients in the coming weeks.
It's due to the number of EMAS staff isolating due to Covid, and continuing pressure on the service.
It's hoped it will mean crews can focus on higher-priority calls, and reduce delays for non-emergency patients.
Ben Holdaway, Director of Operations at East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “As an ambulance service, the most important thing for us is that we are able to provide emergency care to our patients when they need it.
“Transmission rates of COVID-19 in the community have continued to rise, and we have seen an increased number of EMAS staff needing to self-isolate or be absent due to testing positive for COVID-19.
“Combined with the intense pressure the whole NHS system is under, and the high demand on our service, some of our less urgent and non-emergency patients are waiting longer for an ambulance than they should rightfully expect.
“Our new military colleagues will bolster the Urgent Care part of our service which attends non-emergency patients.
“This in turn will ensure our emergency ambulance crews can focus on attending the life-threatening and serious emergencies in our communities.
“While the introduction of military support has always been part of NHS plans in case of increased pressure, we are taking this proactive step now to safeguard the provision of a safe 999 service for our patients in the coming weeks.
“We look forward to making our new military colleagues feel welcome at EMAS.”
The military colleagues will not be driving on blue lights and will wear their military uniform while supporting EMAS.