Pledge to turn round East of England Ambulance Service

The new team running an ambulance trust has pledged after their first annual meeting to improve poor response times.

Five non-executive directors resigned in June from the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) over a damaging report about its performance.

Interim chief executive Andrew Morgan said their aim was to ensure response to patients was "better than it has been".

"It's about care and compassion and clinical outcome," he said.

The new board includes non-executive members Sheila Childerhouse and Frances Pennell-Buck.

Ms Childerhouse told the BBC: "As far as the board is concerned we need to get a permanent team in place and immediately turn round something which has taken a long time to develop.

"I am committed to making a difference for patients."

The trust has faced criticism over the past few years over its poor response times, particularly in rural areas.

All five non-executive board members resigned "in the best interests of patients", Mr Morgan said.