To receive a verbal update on the performance of the East of England Ambulance Services Trust.

The Chairman welcomed Simon King and Liz McEwan from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust who delivered a presentation on the performance of the Ambulances Service (EEAST).  Bedfordshire continued to be the best performing area in the East of England, however, the Trust was not complacent and had undertaken a number of initiatives to improve performance including the handover of patients at A&E.  Bedfordshire hospitals were the best performing hospitals in the region.

The EEAST had recently been awarded the contract for the Non-Emergency Passenger Transport Service (NEPT) on 1 January 2018.  The Trust had undertaken the service  temporarily from September 2017 when the previous provider was unable to fulfil its contract.  Staff TUPED over to the Trust had undertaken a programme of training and development.

The pressure experienced by NEPT centred around the delay in discharges from hospitals.  A Transport Coordinator had been appointed to help the flow of patients out of hospitals.

A Member had received many positive comments from residents regarding the new arrangements and looked forward to an update in six months on the development of the NEPT contract by EEAST.

Members congratulated the Ambulance service on its continued excellent performance in Central Bedfordshire.

RECOMMENDED the Committee:-

1.    Welcomed the positive presentation.

2.    Welcomed good hospital turnaround times at Bedford Hospital and the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, amongst the best in the region.

3.    While recognising the inter relationship between the service and hospitals, looks to see a reduction in the number of hours lost in excess handover time.

4.    Following the changes in the Non-Emergency Transport Service, looks to see how well the service is performing with a report back for its September meeting.