Popular cycling paramedics saved from winter cuts

North Norfolk MP Steffan Aquarone met with East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust staff at Wells Community Hospital

A coastal community has been reassured that it will not be losing its cycling paramedics this winter.

Rumours had spread around Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk that the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) was cutting its cycle response unit (CRU) in October.

It was discussed at a town council meeting at the start of this month and North Norfolk MP Steffan Aquarone met with ambulance service bosses on Friday.

The EEAST has allayed concerns for now and a spokesperson said there would be no changes over the winter.

An e-bike was bought for the CRU team in January partly from funds raised in the community.

The ambulance service has been reviewing the deployment of its resources ahead of confirming its winter plan by October.

Aquarone met with the service's chief executive Neill Moloney and the head of clinical operations for Norfolk and Waveney, Kyle Hampshire-Smith, at Wells Community Hospital, where the CRU operates from.

The Liberal Democrat MP said: "I'm pleased to confirm that the cycling paramedics will remain in place in Wells this winter where they will respond to urgent incidents, reassure patients, cut delays and deliver vital care to those in the community who need it most."

Aquarone said the cycling paramedics had been first on scene to 95% of incidents in the area in the last year

The cycling paramedics operate 365 days a year, subject to staff availability.

Aquarone said he received dozens of letters from residents concerned that it was going to be cut.

He cited figures from EEAST which showed in the past year the CRU had been first on the scene at 95% of incidents in the area, being called to 254 cases.

He added: "People in Wells rely on the cycling paramedics - they save minutes, reassure patients and often avoid an ambulance trip or a hospital admission."

Previously, Mr Hampshire-Smith admitted the service was being reviewed. He described CRUs as a "valuable resource" in hard-to-reach areas, but said the peak demands of the summer decline in autumn and winter.

But earlier, a spokesperson said: "Following a review of the cycle response unit in Wells-next-the-Sea, there will be no changes to the service over winter. "