Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan has met UNISON members working for the London Ambulance Service to hear directly about the pressures facing frontline crews and the support they say is needed.
Allin-Khan said:
“Spent the morning speaking with @unisontheunion members of London Ambulance Service. Really insightful discussion about pressures they face and support they need.”
She added:
“I’ll always be an ally to fellow frontline workers.”
London Ambulance Service records busiest summer ever
The meeting comes after London Ambulance Service reported its busiest summer on record.
Between June and August, the service responded to 599,300 calls to 999, 2.3% higher than the previous record set in 2021. It also dealt with 44,578 Category 1 incidents involving the most seriously ill patients, including cardiac arrests and people who had stopped breathing.
At the height of the summer heatwave, London Ambulance Service answered more than 8,800 emergency calls in a single day, including around 500 calls an hour during the busiest period.
UNISON warns of mounting pressure on crews
UNISON has repeatedly warned about the physical and mental strain facing ambulance workers.
The union says staff are dealing with heavy workloads, understaffing, long handover delays outside hospitals and violence at work. It has also raised concerns about extreme heat, with crews reporting long shifts in ambulances with inadequate cooling, limited access to water and prolonged waits outside hospitals.
A wider UNISON survey published this week found 87% of public-service workers said their workload had increased over the previous year, while 79% said they were being asked to do more with fewer resources.
Mental health and retention concerns
Pressure across the NHS is also taking a toll on staff wellbeing.
UNISON research published earlier this year found that 85% of NHS workers surveyed had experienced work-related stress during the previous 12 months, with a third saying they had taken time off because of mental-health problems.
Separate research into NHS 111 call handlers found high turnover, sickness absence and widespread concern about staffing levels and workload.
Allin-Khan stresses support for frontline workers
Allin-Khan, a doctor as well as the MP for Tooting, has frequently spoken about pressures facing NHS staff and other frontline workers.
Her visit gave ambulance staff an opportunity to raise issues directly with an MP against the backdrop of record demand and continuing concerns about staffing, working conditions and resilience heading into winter.
Her message was straightforward: those delivering emergency care need to be listened to, properly supported and treated as central to the future of the NHS.
