Susanna Reid and Dr Hilary Jones proved they don't always see eye to eye as they clashed during the latest episode of Good Morning Britain. Susanna was back at the helm of the ITV news programme on Wednesday (September 7) and she was joined once again by Ed Balls as her co-host.
The news headlines were, as expected, heavily focused on the new Prime Minister as Liz Truss formed her new government. And Dr Hilary Jones joined the show's panel to discuss the new Tory leader's pledge to make the NHS an 'early priority'. She made a speech outside No.10 on Tuesday (September 6) after arriving back from Balmoral from her meeting with the Queen.
Setting out her initial aims, she said she would grow the economy through tax cuts and reform; take action to deal with energy bills and put the health service on "a firm footing". Following the speech, Ms Truss began to appoint the senior ministers who will sit in her cabinet which was announced throughout Tuesday evening.
As they spoke about her pledge to the NHS, Susanna opened up about how she is scared to call an ambulance due to the major struggles the ambulance service face. The 51-year-old detailed having to call an ambulance for a loved one who'd had a fall but was left speechless when she discovered they were faced with a five-hour wait.
But as they reflected on the struggles the NHS is facing, Dr Hilary said: "We only hear about the bad stories and many people are getting a wonderful service." Susanna, however, was keen to point out that many people will have had positive experiences but shared one viewers' upsetting story.
They said that their husband suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting for an ambulance. "This is what I mean when I say I'm afraid of calling an ambulance," Susanna said. "We used to be able to rely on – you'd call 999 and someone would come, now you can't be confident that's going to happen."
Dr Hilary replied: "That's right but at the same time there are people who are abusing the service, people who have got cars outside their house and could take that patient to the hospital themselves but call an ambulance."
Susanna, however, fumed: "That's not an abuse of the service, Doctor Hilary!" to which he added: "That is an abuse of the service." Undeterred, Susanna continued: "If you're calling an ambulance, that's because you want a paramedic team who are going to treat your patient in your home or outside immediately.
"You might be afraid of moving that person, you might be afraid that when you take that person into hospital, you haven't had all the medication you would need on that journey. To call it an abuse is harsh!" Dr Hilary did seem to relent as he responded: "Well no, there is abuse," before going on to discuss the physical abuse paramedics which Susanna agreed was unacceptable.
But GMB viewers were unimpressed. @scottmoffett113 tweeted: "So Hilary if you have a car but call an ambulance its an abuse of the service? Gotcha. #GMB." @Sian_humphreys fumed: "Dr Hilary saying calling an ambulance if you’ve got a car outside is abuse of the NHS?????? Get him off #GMB."
@Rach090823 admitted in response: "I had to turn off!!!" @k44ldo commented: "@DrHilaryJones got to laugh at his comments on #GMB … People are abusing the system by phoning an ambulance when they have a car to take people to hospital. Don’t fancy trying to drive someone to hospital if their cardiac arrest."
Some, however, fave a more resoned response. @Htaylor4476 shared: "#gmb If I'm calling an ambulance its because I need urgent attention from the paramedics. If it's ok to do so, then yes I'd drive someone to the hospital. Dr H - its not an abuse of power." @IckieBickie argued: "Have some common sense. Some people can get themselves to hospital and don’t. You obviously need an ambulance for many reasons, but not for a broken arm. #gmb."
READ NEXT:
- ITV This Morning's Holly Willoughby shows discomfort as she defends Meghan Markle over Vanessa Feltz's criticism
- Jade Goody and Jeff Brazier's son Bobby makes BBC EastEnders debut as fans make same remark
- ITV Emmerdale's Charley Webb leaves fans stunned with singing video
- Gorka Marquez tells Gemma Atkinson her 'pregnant' face is back as she's looked after by daughter and local restaurant
