“In every crisis, there is also opportunity”

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.

Read the full article on the National Leadership website here >>

Garrett Emmerson, Chief Executive Officer of the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, writes about the work to keep providing critical life-saving services during the pandemic.