Bath MP to debate ambulance and emergency department waiting times

5 July 2022

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse is to debate ambulance and emergency department waiting times. The debate will take place next week in response to soaring waiting times in Bath.

Previously the Liberal Democrats called for an urgent investigation into England’s ambulance services and a review of ambulance station closures more generally.

In Bath there have been several cases of patients waiting many hours for an ambulance with one gentleman forced to sleep on the floor of a church whilst waiting for an ambulance which took 12 hours to arrive. Last year, a 91-year-old had to wait seven hours for help after a fall at home.

The debate will take place in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 6th July where Mrs Hobhouse and colleagues will debate soaring waiting times.

Wera Hobhouse MP commented:

“Ambulance waiting times are soaring. The Conservatives are burying their heads in the sand, hoping that the problem just goes away. Ambulance waiting times are spiraling out of control and we need urgent action. It is catastrophic that our local NHS services are under such severe pressure and the Conservatives are failing to take any action.

“12-hour waiting times are just the tip of the iceberg. In Bath an elderly gentleman had to sleep on a church floor whilst he waited for help.

“We need a robust plan from the Conservatives to correct the situation as soon as possible. The Conservative Party has taken people for granted for too long and it's clear that they don’t care about people’s health. Sky-high waiting times are endangering the health of residents in Bath.

“This debate will allow me to pressure the Government to act to tackle this appalling situation.”