Tiverton and Honiton byelection - the area has worst ambulance wait times in Devon

With the focus on the upcoming by-election in Devon, Parties have been speaking about NHS Services.

We've already written about the ambulance service delays in the South West, but it seems Tiverton and Honiton has the worst ambulance waiting times in Devon, as the party puts the issue at the heart of the by-election campaign.

The shocking figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats, show that patients in Mid Devon, which covers the constituency, waited an average of over 15 minutes for life-threatening calls in 2021/22. This is longer than anywhere else in the county.

Category one calls cover the most serious incidents such as a cardiac arrest or heavy bleeding and should be responded to within an average of seven minutes. But the figures show the target for life-threatening calls is now being missed in all of Devon's seven local districts.

The data was obtained by the Liberal Democrats from the South West Ambulance Trust through a Freedom of Information request. It comes after separate figures uncovered by the party showed the South West has the worst ambulance delays in the country.

Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper, who is visiting Tiverton Hospital today ahead of the upcoming by-election, called for urgent action from the government to support ambulance services in rural areas like Devon.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

"Behind these figures are heart-breaking stories of people waiting in fear for an ambulance to arrive when they or a loved one urgently need one.

"People across Tiverton and Honiton are rightly deeply worried by the state of local ambulance services. The Lib Dems are listening and have put forward a clear plan to fix this crisis, so that you can be sure an ambulance will arrive when you need one.

"We are calling for more investment in local ambulance services, an urgent campaign to recruit more paramedics and enabling trusts to restore community ambulance stations in rural areas where they need them."

Richard Foord, Liberal Democrat candidate for Tiverton and Honiton, said:

"These figures show what our communities in Devon know already, health services here are being driven into the ground by years of Conservative neglect.

"Whether it's waiting weeks to see a doctor or hours for an ambulance, it's almost impossible to access health services when you need them.

"For too long, Devon has been at the bottom of the national league table for ambulance waiting times. The election on 23rd June is a chance to tell this Conservative government that it's time for a change.

"As your local MP, I will stand up for local health services and make sure people here are never taken for granted."

Notes

• The data was obtained by the Liberal Democrats under the Freedom of Information Act from the South West Ambulance Trust. It reveals that the seven minute target is not being met in six of seven local district areas in Devon. The full data is available below.
• Category 1 calls are for patients facing life-threatening illnesses or injuries that require an immediate response, such as a cardiac arrest. Under NHS targets these should be responded in an average of seven minutes.
• Category 2 calls are for patients facing an emergency such as a stroke or severe burns. Under NHS targets these should be responded in an average of 18 minutes.