Ambulance services in Bath are grappling with a mounting crisis, as delays in hospital transfers intensify pressure on emergency responders, warns Bath’s Liberal Democrat MP, Wera Hobhouse.
On July 11, Mrs Hobhouse visited the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) at Bath Ambulance Station, engaging directly with frontline paramedics and senior managers. The meeting, part of her duties with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Emergency Care, shed light on the overwhelming demand and resource strain facing ambulance crews.
Covering a vast 10,000 square miles and serving over 5.7 million people across urban and rural areas—including Bath, Bristol, Exeter, and Swindon—SWASFT also handles emergency incidents involving more than 23 million annual visitors. During the visit, Mrs Hobhouse spoke with SWASFT’s chief executive Dr John Martin, along with operations heads Paul Birkett-Wendes and Oliver Dalton, who highlighted “hospital handover delays” as a critical bottleneck hampering ambulance availability.
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Since 2020, the Trust has increased ambulance operational hours from 37,000 to over 50,000 weekly and expanded remote triage services. Emergency operations centers now more efficiently assess 999 calls, helping to reduce unnecessary hospital conveyances and achieving one of the nation’s lowest rates of hospital transports by ambulance.
Specialist Hospital Ambulance Liaison Officers (HALOs) are stationed at the busiest emergency departments to streamline patient handovers and provide leadership. Additionally, collaborative Care Coordination (CareCo) Hubs connect ambulance clinicians with health and social care providers, ensuring patients receive appropriate care promptly.
Following the briefing, Mrs Hobhouse toured the station and inspected ambulances alongside paramedics Ollie Dalton and Ollie Bourton, who showcased advanced mobile diagnostic and treatment equipment.
Dr Martin praised the visit, stating, “We appreciated the chance to demonstrate the dedication and professionalism of our teams. It was an important opportunity to share how we’re striving to improve patient care across Bath and North East Somerset.”
Mrs Hobhouse expressed deep concern over the crisis: “In May alone, nearly 500 people in our region endured waits exceeding 12 hours in A&E. Combined with restricted GP access—forcing one in eight patients to turn to emergency departments—our NHS is buckling under pressure. This strain has contributed to an estimated 50,000 avoidable deaths last year, evidence of how devastating years of Conservative neglect have been.”
She criticized the current government’s slow response, calling for decisive action: “The NHS and emergency services are facing their own emergency. Yet the government continues to postpone solutions with endless reviews. We Liberal Democrats demand urgent, ambitious measures so patients receive the care they deserve. Anything less condemns thousands to needless suffering.”
Mrs Hobhouse concluded by praising ambulance workers’ dedication: “I have immense respect for these frontline heroes who provide vital care despite overwhelming challenges.”