Responding to a new survey by Mind on poor mental health among emergency responders, NHS Providers director of communications Adam Brimelow said:

"It is troubling to see that ambulance staff and volunteers are particularly affected when it comes to the impact of COVID-19 on mental health.

"The wellbeing of staff is the top priority for all trust leaders, and they are continually looking at the enhanced support they can offer staff to recover from an unprecedented period of sustained pressure. There is always more to do and it is important this remains a primary focus for trusts.

"To protect wellbeing in the long term, it is vital that there are enough staff to not only fill existing workforce shortages, but also to build flexibility in the system, so that staff can have more realistic workloads and better work life balance."