Supporting the London Ambulance Service

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) is the busiest ambulance service in the country. In 2017/18, it handled over 1.9 million emergency calls from across London and attended more than 1.2 million incidents.

But a key question is, can the LAS cope with the growing volume of demand? The ambulance service is both a barometer and a back-stop for wider pressures across the health and care system.

The London Assembly Health Committee has released a report called ‘Supporting London’s ambulance service’ which makes recommendations on how best to support the London Ambulance Service.

Some of the recommendations include:

• Develop an access to work programme to help unemployed Londoners get a job within the service.
• Share best practice to encourage workforce diversity and engage more with London’s diverse communities.
• Identify community safety needs and the resource needed to maintain a safe and secure environment.
• Identify gaps in existing provision for falls, mental health, maternity care and end of life care by developing a city-wide response.

The full report can be read below.