London Ambulance Service Chief Executive Ann Radmore told a London Assembly committee today that, while she welcomes the opportunity for greater collaboration of London’s 999 services, the ambulance service should remain part of the NHS.
Ann was attending the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee along with Director of Operations, Jason Killens.
They were joined by representatives from both the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and London Fire Brigade (LFB) who all spoke of the improved collaboration work in London’s emergency services.
Ann said: “The London Ambulance Service is the cornerstone of the NHS in the capital providing both urgent and emergency care to patients. Our paramedics are clinicians like doctors and nurses and their place is within the NHS.
“Approximately 90 per cent of calls to our Service are dealt with without the attendance of police or fire services.”
However, the Service does already work closely with its emergency partners and will be looking at other opportunities for greater collaboration in the new year.
Ann said: “Through more joined up working, there is the potential to improve our response to incidents and operate more efficiently.”
The Service already works closely with the LFB on joint training exercises and has taught fire fighters advanced first aid skills. It also provides a joint response to some patients with the MPS and the chiefs of each service meet regularly.
Ann said: “We are now looking at areas such as procurement, estate, control rooms, training and information technology where we believe there is real potential to improve care to patients, increase efficiency or build on existing areas of collaboration.”
Representatives from each emergency service are set to meet in the new year to investigate opportunities to further develop ideas for collaborative working.