Susanna Reid expressed her deep worry to Health Secretary Steve Barclay over the ongoing NHS strikes.
According to reports, 25,000 ambulance personnel in England and Wales are on strike today in protest of the government’s pay cuts, with many worried that some patients could be forced to drive themselves to the hospital.
Mr Barclay has promised quick action to relieve congestion, including the construction of A&E temporary facilities in hospital parking lots and the provision of 7,000 beds in ‘virtual wards’ that would allow patients to be treated at home.
Reid and co-host Richard Madeley questioned the latest patient advise on Wednesday’s Good Morning Britain.
‘If someone was having a stroke right now, you’re basically saying that you cannot guarantee that an ambulance would come out in the time necessary to save that life,’ she said.
Mr Barclay responded: ‘We’re saying people should phone 999 where there is a genuine life-threatening incident.
‘We’ve been working with the trade unions in terms of what cover they will provide…’
A frustrated Reid fired back: ‘Mr Barclay I’m sorry but what is the answer to the question? Can you guarantee if someone I know has a stroke today, that if I call 999 an ambulance will arrive?’
The Health Secretary stated that “contingency procedures” had been put in place in case of an emergency.
When asked if the administration had reached a decision on whether “strokes” would be covered, Mr. Barclay stated that it is the primary priority at the moment.
Reid pushed back, saying, ‘So basically someone has to diagnose themselves or during the call that it is a stroke or a heart attack?’
‘Well this is why we don’t think the arrangement we have in place is acceptable,’ Mr Barclay replied.
‘How are you as Health Secretary able to say that,’ Reid fumed.
‘It is unacceptable, and to be honest it’s unacceptable on a normal day, we can’t even guarantee that an ambulance is going to come out for a stroke today, on a strike day, but the target time for emergency calls in the case of a stroke is 18 minutes.’
She continued: ‘This has not been met nationwide for almost three years. This isn’t just a problem today, part of the reason the workers are on strike today is because they cannot get out in time to save people’s lives.’
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
