The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is arguably the greatest public healthcare challenge faced by the NHS since it came into being in 1948.

Due to its pivotal position as the UK’s primary international transport hub, the virus spread rapidly across London, several weeks in advance of the rest of the country. The London Ambulance Service, as London’s primary provider and coordinator of urgent and emergency care, was therefore at the forefront of the nation’s response.

In the early weeks of March 2020, calls for 999 ambulance services rapidly doubled, and trebled for 111 urgent care services. At the same time, in common with many other employers, we were losing up to 20% of our workforce to COVID-related sickness and self-isolation.

These are unprecedented times: we’re fighting an invisible disease infecting our society which, if left to spread freely, is highly contagious. We have to root it out, stop it spreading and ultimately eradicate it once and for all, to enable us to live, thrive and survive successfully into the future. And the name of insidious virus attacking the fabric of our society? Racism.

Like all of us, I have been shocked and profoundly affected by the events of the last week or so, since the tragic death of George Floyd in America. Across the country, and across the world, people from all walks of life and all ethnic backgrounds have been standing up and saying #blacklivesmatter.

As he takes on his new role as Chief Executive of the UK’s busiest ambulance service, Garrett Emmerson talks about his transition from the transport to the health sector, how his skills and experience have helped him in making this change, and ultimately why London is his calling.