How will emergency services maintain ‘business as usual’ during the 2012 Games?

How well prepared will the capital’s police, fire and health services be to deal with the extra people in London for the 2012 Games? How are they planning to run services as normal for Londoners while under extra pressure during such a high profile event?

The London Assembly is investigating how London’s emergency services are working together to ensure they can deliver services during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Over a period of nine weeks from July to September 2012, the capital will welcome more than 10,500 Olympic athletes, 4,200 Paralympic athletes and 14,000 officials from over 200 countries who will take part in the Olympic sports events.  At the same time a range of cultural events will take place across London, potentially attracting a large number of people who want to soak up the excitement.  As yet there is no agreed estimate on exactly how many millions of visitors are expected for the Games.

The Committee wants to find out if the large number of people who come to London during Games time will put extra pressure on hospitals, GPs and the ambulance service, police and other emergency services.  Preparing and delivering the 2012 Games is a complex project, involving a large number of different national, regional and local organisations, with no single body having overall responsibility. 

Chair of the Health and Public Services Committee, James Cleverly AM, said: “Londoners need to know that the essential services they receive from the NHS, police, fire service and other emergency services will still be available to them during the 2012 Games.  Coordination in the lead up to and during the Games will be essential to both delivering a successful Olympics and maintaining the services Londoners rely on.”

The Committee will hold two public meetings: 9 June and 1 July.  A report will be launched in October 2010.

Notes for editors:

1.  The investigation aims to answer the following questions:

• What is the expected impact of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on London emergency services’ ability to deliver services as usual?
• Who is accountable for ensuring delivery of services as usual to Londoners and what are they doing to ensure services as usual are delivered for Londoners and visitors during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games?
• What milestones and planning assumptions are London’s emergency services working towards in preparing for the Games?
• What are the resource implications for delivering emergency services during the Games and how will these be managed?
• What are the key issues facing London’s emergency services in planning for the Games over the next 12 months?

2. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

James Cleverly is available for interviews.  For more details, please contact Lisa Moore or Julie Wheldon in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 4603/4283.  For out of hours media enquiries please call 0207 983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.  Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, Greater London Authority, on 020 7983 4100.