Shropshire MP Helen Morgan disappointed as Javid rejects 999 crisis review
A Shropshire MP has met the Health Secretary to press for action over the current ambulance crisis.
Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, held talks with Sajid Javid at Westminster over the ongoing problems.
During the meeting she asked him to set up an independent Care Quality Commission review into the health problems affecting the county – a request rejected by Mr Javid.
It comes after health minster Edward Argar pledged to visit the county to see the problems first-hand, and local health bosses set up their own review to try to solve the issues.
It has also been reported that West Midlands Ambulance Service faced its worst ever day for delays on Tuesday of this week – with the longest waits at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Mrs Morgan said: "If you suffer a heart attack in Shropshire you have to wait almost twice as long as people in Birmingham, and if you have a serious but not-critical problem you could be stuck in an ambulance outside hospital for an entire day.
“From carers to consultants, far more staff are needed across the health system in Shropshire. As frontline health staff try and cope with more pressure than anyone should be expected to deal with, the Government needs to hurry up and act.
“Given the scale of the country’s labour shortage, serious action is needed, as so far there is no evidence that attempts to boost the workforce are working.
“I’m disappointed the Health Secretary is refusing a CQC review, as an impartial look at Shropshire could help come up with fresh solutions. However, I know the team from the Integrated Care System are working extremely hard on their own review and I’m looking forward to hearing their results."
Shropshire has been plagued by worsening ambulance response times for more than six months – with the time taken to get to patients frequently affected by the number of hours ambulances are waiting outside hospitals.
