Below is our correspondence with EEAST regarding the claims that the
Norwich Western Link will improve ambulance response times
OCE EEAST <OCE.EEAST@eastamb.nhs.uk>
Thu, Jun 1, 5:07 PM (11 days ago)
Dear Richard
Thank you for your email and for taking the time to raise a query.
Apologies but we do not have data stored about the journey times you have requested.
We would anticipate that the Norwich Western Links will improve the journey to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital from our coastal areas both in terms of time and patient experience due to the improved quality of the road surface. It is likely that blue light journeys will remain unchanged as there is less impact from traffic congestion. Having been in touch with Duncan Baker MP he has advised that this was an estimate based on improved road conditions and avoidance of the busy city centre traffic. The main influence on our response times remains the hospital handover delays in the region’s acute hospitals. The Norfolk and Norwich hospital in the last month had an average handover time of one hour and fifteen minutes against a Trust average of thirty-five minutes.
I hope this is helpful, we would suggest making contact with the council who will have used evidence in the development of their business case in relation to improved journey times in relation to the new road.
Kind Regards,
Tom
Tom Abell
Chief Executive
Office of the Chief Executive
East of England Ambulance Service
T: 01763 268742
E: oce.eeast@eastamb.nhs.uk
A: Melbourn HQ, Whiting Way, Melbourn, Cambs, SG8 6NA
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From: Richard
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2023 6:24 PM
To: Media <Media@eastamb.nhs.uk>
Subject: Norwich Western Link - Ambulance journey times
27 April 2023
F.A.O. The Media Department, East of England Ambulance Service
Dear sir or madam,
I noted on Sunday's BBC programme Politics East (23 April ) that Mr Duncan Baker MP stated that the building of the Norwich Western Link road would reduce ambulance journey times by 20 minutes. I wrote to him, asking for his source of this information, and supporting details. He has referred me to you.
Please can you give me details, e.g. actual recorded ambulance journey times on those routes whose times are predicted to be reduced if the road were built, and how the estimated saving in time has been calculated. My calculations indicate that 20 minutes is a huge over-estimate.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you very much.
Yours sincerely,
Richard