SUFFOLK Coastal MP Therese Coffey is to meet the independent regulatory body Monitor to discuss her growing concern over the ambulance trust missing its service targets.

Dr Coffey – who will be meeting Monitor officials next Wednesday – is investigating a number of cases where constituents have had lengthy waits for ambulances to take them to hospital.

She said the area was receiving a “poor level of service” from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust and is demanding changes.

She is currently working with the family of Nora Dennington, whose son Eric and daughter-in-law Joyce live at Dawson Drive, Trimley St Mary. Nora, 95, had to wait nearly four hours for an ambulance while suffering agonising stomach pains. She died the next day and while her family stress the wait did not contribute to her death, they are concerned that her last hours were spent in pain.

“I am chasing the trust on several specific cases, including that of Mr Dennington’s mother Nora who had to wait for hours for an ambulance. I am glad they have now issued an apology but still no response has been received about the reasons for the delay, which isn’t good enough.”

The ambulance trust has said it is revising crew rotas and this will increase coverage in the Felixstowe area by more than 115 vehicle hours a week, with ambulances better placed to get to patients when needed.