34 patients a week left waiting in ambulances as NHS crisis hits Croydon
Over 200 patients have been left waiting in ambulances in Croydon during the winter so far, according to new figures published today (4 January).
Official NHS figures show that 206 patients were left in ambulances for more than 30 minutes between 20th November and 31st December, an average of 34 per week.
Labour MP Steve Reed condemned the Conservatives for slashing Croydon’s NHS funding. Staff shortages and budget cuts, coupled with more people needing to use NHS services, have brought the borough’s NHS close to breaking point.
Steve Reed said:
These figures are absolutely shocking. They are a damning picture of our crumbling NHS under Theresa May’s Conservatives.
Over 200 desperately ill people have been left in the back of ambulances during the cold winter months. NHS services in Croydon can no longer cope after years of underfunding and neglect by the Conservative Government.
You have to ask why the Conservatives are throwing away billions in tax cuts for wealthy corporations while our NHS is starved of the funding it needs to keep people well.
Steven Reed is Labour MP for Croydon North and Shadow Minister for Children and Families. In 2018 his private member’s bill on reducing violent mental health restraint became law. In June 2019 he launched Labour’s civil society strategy outlining radical plans to empower citizens and communities.
Steve chairs the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network, co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for London, was Leader of Lambeth Council 2006-12 where he led the council’s children’s services to become best-rated in the country and pioneered the public-health approach to tackling violent youth crime. He worked in publishing for 16 years and was an elected trade union branch secretary.