As part of his ongoing commitment to supporting local healthcare services, James Wild MP visited King's Lynn Ambulance Station to meet frontline staff, see the work of the East of England Ambulance Service first-hand, and join a crew responding to live 999 calls.
James was welcomed by Area Manager Paul Collins and met crew members Katie and Ethan, who showed him around the station and the range of ambulances in operation. They explained how different vehicles are equipped to meet the needs of patients and support crews working in a variety of circumstances.
He also met members of the technical team responsible for restocking and maintaining the fleet to ensure ambulances are ready to respond at any time of day or night.
During the visit, James heard from the crew about the realities of frontline ambulance work, including shift patterns, the demands of responding across large rural areas, and the importance of timely hospital handovers. He also discussed the prospect of a new ambulance station in King's Lynn, the Trust's focus on staff wellbeing, and wider plans to expand the scope of paramedic practice to treat more patients in the community.
The discussions were then interrupted by pagers alerting the crew to a 999 call, after which James accompanied Katie and Ethan as they quickly boarded the ambulance to set out for a patient.
Speaking after the visit, James Wild MP said:
“It was a privilege to spend time with the team at King's Lynn Ambulance Station and to gain such an immersive insight into the work of the East of England Ambulance Service.
“I valued the opportunity to discuss the issues facing the service, from the importance of timely hospital handovers to plans to expand the scope of paramedic practice so that more patients can be treated in the community where appropriate.
“When I was out with the crew on emergency calls, I saw their skill, composure and professionalism in action as they helped local people. I am grateful to everyone at the station for taking the time to show me their work, and for the dedicated service they provide to local residents around the clock.”
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides 24-hour emergency and urgent care to around six million people across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex, responding to more than a million 999 calls a year (EEAST). Based on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site, King's Lynn is the main base for West Norfolk, with crews covering one of the most rural parts of the country.
