Lib Dems set out a plan to tackle ambulance delays and end “corridor care crisis”

EMBARGO: 22:30 Saturday 8th June

• The Liberal Democrats have announced a new plan to tackle the scandal of patients dying before an ambulance arrives with 1,000 new hospital beds and investment for A&E departments.

• Ed Davey has unveiled a plan to save NHS and social care services ahead of the party manifesto launch which includes a dedicated care chapter.

• Liberal Democrats have previously announced their plans to recruit more GPs, fix crumbling hospitals and provide free personal care.

Today (Sunday 9th June), the Liberal Democrats have unveiled their plan to fix the crisis in ambulance waiting times, through an extra 1,000 staffed hospital beds and investment in urgent care services. 

The party says this plan would help end excessive handover delays and the scandal of patients waiting in corridors to be treated.

The proposals would be funded through an upfront capital investment of £280m to expand urgent treatment centres and A&E wards and an additional £400m per year to add an extra 1,000 staffed beds in hospitals.

The new policy announcement comes ahead of the party launching its General Election manifesto, which will prioritise fixing the health and social care services crisis. 

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has unveiled his plan to save the NHS with a bold and fully funded package, including ending the scandal of people dying due to long ambulance waiting times. In recent weeks, the Liberal Democrats have also announced their policy of increasing the number of GPs by 8,000 and introducing a ten-year rolling programme of hospital repairs. 

The 2024 Liberal Democrat manifesto will be the first in the party’s history to include a dedicated care chapter to ensure everyone is treated with dignity without having to sell their home. The Liberal Democrat plan to offer free personal care for all is a central pillar to their package of ending ambulance waiting times and bed blocking in hospitals. 

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 

“At the heart of the Liberal Democrats’ plan for the country is a bold and ambitious package to save the NHS. 

“The chaos and crisis in hospitals and ambulance services is costing lives. Too many people have lost a loved one to the shameful scandal of ambulance waiting times. People simply no longer trust that when they call 999, an ambulance will arrive in time. 

“The NHS was once the envy of the world's envy, but it has been in constant crisis under the Conservative Party. The Conservatives have left health services crumbling, with nurses and paramedics overstretched and vulnerable patients left with the indignity of waiting in corridors for life-saving treatment. 

“The Liberal Democrats would end the crisis in our ambulance services, by increasing the number of beds and offering free personal care to ease the pressure on hospital wards.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS: 

The plan to end the life-threatening crisis in ambulance services includes: 

• Providing free personal care to ease the pressure on hospitals and ambulance services 

• Increasing the number of staffed hospital beds by 1,000 to end excessive handover delays 

• Publishing accessible, localised reports of ambulance response times