Ambulance services in England placed on highest alert level

Extremely high demand has led to all ambulance services in England being placed on the “highest alert level”.

 

NHS trusts say a combination of hot weather, delays handing patients over to accident and emergency units, and staff Covid absences, have caused problems.

 

Ambulance services have urged people to stay safe during the heatwave, to avoid overwhelming the NHS, the public is being asked to reserve 999 calls for emergencies only, and many trusts have asked people to speak to their GP, pharmacist or call 111 for non-urgent issues.

 

Martin Flaherty, managing director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, said “The NHS ambulance sector is under intense pressure, with all ambulance services operating at the highest level of four within their local resource escalation action plans, normally only ever reserved for major incidents or short-term periods of unusual demand.

 

“Severe delays in ambulance crews being able to hand over their patients at many hospital emergency departments are having a very significant impact on the ambulance sector’s ability to respond to patients as quickly as we would like to, because our crews and vehicles are stuck outside those hospitals.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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