After a video conference with the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust last week, on behalf of all my constituents, I would like to thank the Service for the efficiency and dedicated manner in which it has responded to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The fact that they have not been overwhelmed so far is a testament to the value of efforts made by the public to socially isolate and enable the NHS to maintain functioning emergency services throughout.
However, the ambulance service has experienced a noticeable decline in (non-COVID-19) conveyances to hospitals as a result of the crisis and has asked me to remind patients and the public to continue utilising emergency services should they require it.
There are currently some concerns at a regional level about the non-COVID-19 related excess death rates. A recent analysis has shown that 50% of the excess deaths last week were related to non-COVID-19 illnesses, particularly in the elderly.
We do not want any more unnecessary deaths because patients with other serious conditions feel they cannot call for help.