A DORSET MP has called on the Government to end long ambulance waiting times by using support from the armed forces.

South Western Ambulance Service applied for personnel support from the army in July last year but only ended up receiving '18 soldiers for a few weeks to help'.

West Dorset MP Chris Loder questioned the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) in a Westminster Hall debate about why the ambulance service did not receive greater support when requested.

Dorset Echo: Chris Loder MP in the House of Commons

Mr Loder said: “Many constituents of mine have had awful experiences where they have had to wait hours for an ambulance. four, eight, ten hours.

“I applied for this debate because, more recently, constituents have been in touch to share their despair, often family members of vulnerable people, telling me that they wait for an ambulance for many hours, even in urgent circumstances.

“Any diligent MP cannot stand by and allow this situation to go on without proper scrutiny and it is clear to me that something needs to change."

Mr Loder told the chairman that he did not wish to criticise the South Western Ambulance Service and acknowledged he is not the only MP to hear of these stories with the issues arising from ‘greater demand’ on the health service.

The Dorset MP asked the Government to reconsider the process of military aid to the civil authorities' requests to make sure that, in the future, the proper assistance is given, including to formalise the link and supporting relationship with the St John Ambulance.

He continued: “Perhaps in the future, we ought to have a better-publicised hierarchy of need for when we are faced with a national crisis which requires military aid to the civilian authorities.

“I cannot pretend to know the intimate details of every military aid to the civil authorities (MACA) request submitted to the Government, but I can think of few more acute and urgent services that might need prioritised support than our ambulance service

“Despite the extraordinary work of South Western Ambulance Service, who continue to do everything they can even with increased pressures on their staff, delays for people getting help are being seen in west Dorset and across the country.

“We need to make sure that this difficulty is not experienced again.”

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A spokeswoman for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “We’re sorry that some patients are having to wait longer for an ambulance as a result of health and social care being under severe pressure.

"The most significant impact is the length of time it’s taking us to hand over patients into busy hospitals. It’s an absolute priority for us and for our NHS partners to reduce these delays, so crews can get back out on the road for other patients.

“Our people are working incredibly hard day and night to enable us to be there for our patients, while prioritising those who are most seriously injured and ill.”