Welwyn Hatfield MP Andrew Lewin joins East of England Ambulance Service paramedics for shift
Hertfordshire MP Andrew Lewin, a former Bishop’s Stortford High School student, joined paramedics for a shift on duty in the county.
Mr Lewin won the Welwyn Hatfield seat for Labour in July, beating Conservative former Defence Secretary Grants Shapps.
He teamed up with Daisy and Jake on an East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) ambulance from Welwyn Garden City’s station and observed them as they responded to 999 calls.
The experience gave Mr Lewin an insight into the types of emergencies that EEAST is called to and how ambulance staff try to keep up with increasing demand.
He also learned about the process of handing over patients to hospital A&E departments and how delays there can impact getting ambulances back out on the road quickly.
Mr Lewin said: “It was an honour to join Daisy and Jake on their shift and to see the work of our local paramedics and community first responders first-hand. They were everything I expected from NHS employees: professional, calm and highly skilled at treating their patients.
“It was invaluable to get their perspective on the challenges they face on the front line of the NHS and to discuss how they and their colleagues can best be supported in the future.
“The Labour Government is determined to support the NHS and the work of change has begun. One of our first acts was to deliver a backdated pay rise for NHS staff, as it’s essential we reward our brilliant public servants fairly.”