RAYLEIGH and Wickford MP Mark Francois has received a reply to a Parliamentary Written Question implying that more ambulances would be needed if changes to A&E services in South Essex go ahead.

Mr Francois asked if the budget of the East of England Ambulance Service has been increased to account for the additional workload of the Essex Success Regime proposals.

Philip Dunne MP, the Minister of State at the Department of Health said: “The Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership has always accepted that the possibility of consolidating specialist services across three hospitals could require an additional ambulance capacity potentially requiring some capital investment and increase in revenue per annum.” Francois said:

Mr Francois said: ““I think further attention needs to be given to the potential effect on the East of England Ambulance Service of the proposals to create a specialist trauma centre at Basildon Hospital and to blue light emergency cases there from Southend.