NHS executives welcomed the Government's plan to buy 800 new ambulances - but warned politicians that more would be needed to ensure ambulances services can actually get the new vehicles on the road.
This comes after leaders at the under-fire North East Ambulance Service highlighted that support should tie into the Levelling Up agenda - and that it would be vital to give the NHS the resources to attract and retain its staff. Speaking at a NEAS board meeting, leading figures said that due to national supply chain issues, the service had not been physically able to order ambulances it had planned over the current financial year.
The Government's new plan for improving urgent and emergency care was announced last week by the Prime Minister during a visit to the North East. The plan, which is not backed by extra cash, will see the NHS buy 800 more ambulances, open 5,000 new hospital beds and treat thousands more patients at home via video link in so-called "virtual wards".
Speaking on Thursday, NEAS' chief executive Helen Ray said: "We are pleased to see the recent recovery plan launched by NHS England mentioned, possibly for the first time the role played by the ambulance services and recognised that there's a significant need for continued investment in our teams and in our services."
She went on to say that, while the plan is welcome, staff would be key. She said: "The limiting factor is going to be workforce. We need to keep pushing on that. We welcome fleets of new vehicles, but we need to also be able to attract and retain the workforce that's needed to make those vehicles useful for us and not just stuck in garages."
During the meeting, board chair Peter Strachan spoke of the supply chain issues NEAS had faced - and which he said were being felt around the UK. He said: "This is a national issue. Obviously due to the supply chain issues we have experienced this year we have not been able to order the vehicles we have needed."
Mr Strachan added that it was important for the North East to get an "appropriate allocation" of resources. and that it was important for deprivation and factors such as high-levels of mental illness to be considered. He added: "Levelling up is really important and it needs to be levelled up in this direction. I think it's important that we get them [ambulances] next year. Otherwise we will not be able to achieve what we want for our patients."
Non-executive director John Marshall added: "It's very welcome to have an announcement about hundreds of new ambulances - but this is not something we can simply flick a switch on."
On Wednesday, a damning Care Quality Commission report exposed what inspectors felt were numerous failings at NEAS - which is now rated "requires improvement". When considering its leadership and if it is "well-led", the NHS Trust has been branded "inadequate".
This comes after inspectors identified issues including claims of a "blame culture" with staff scared to raise concerns and that ambulance crews did not always have access to vital medications. However, the trust's chief executive Mrs Ray has said it has "taken swift action" - though recognises "there is more to do".
At the same board meeting, the trust's leaders were told they had the confidence of governors, while Newcastle City Council leader Nick Kemp also declined to criticise the management. However Easington MP Grahame Morris said he was unsurprised by the report and concerned there is a "culture and governance deficit".
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