A total of 15 ambulances were seen queuing outside Southend Hospital today with the new MP branding it as a "totally unacceptable situation."

Anna Firth, Tory MP for Southend West, was in fancy dress as Wonder Woman, as she completed the fundraising abseil down Southend Hospital's tower block.

Ms Firth then spotted the ambulances and spoke to the crews and the patients in the waiting vehicles.

She has vowed to tackle the issue.

Ms Firth recently joined with other Essex MPs for talks with the ambulance service.

It comes as new figures revealed the ambulance service is nearing breaking point as some patients are left waiting almost three hours more than in 2020.

The East of England Ambulance Service, which responds to incidents in counties including Essex, experienced its busiest year on record for the volume of 999 calls it received last year.

 

Mrs Firth said: "Whilst supporting the charity abseil at Southend Hospital today I took time to speak to some patients and crews of the 15 East of England Ambulances waiting. The staff were fantastic but this was is totally unacceptable.

"As soon as I got home I rang the chief exeuctive of Southend Hospital to discuss this totally unacceptable situation. I have been assured that the hospital is working hard to try and get these patients admitted somewhere.

"I have asked for an update by the end of the weekend. The ambulance staff were excellent and made some very sensible, practical suggestions that would improve the service and I will contact the East of England Ambulance Service yet again on Monday."