A&E waiting times ‘crippling’ ambulance services

The head of one of England’s ambulance services has said that long waits for ambulances are largely due to staff being unable to hand over patients to hospitals.

 

South Western Ambulance Service recorded the longest response times for emergency and life-threatening incidents across England in September.

 

The most critical cases were seen in around eleven minutes on average, the target time is seven minutes.

 

Will Warrrender, chief executive of the service, said “We are busier than we’ve ever been.”

 

He added that the service was under “the most sustained period of pressure in it’s history”, and “the situation today is no better than it was in September.”

 

Mr Warrender went on to say that delays in being able to offload patients at hospital A&E departments was having “a crippling effect on our ability to provide emergency services.”

 

Latest figures from NHS England for September suggest that across the country, average response times for ambulance services for category one (life-threatening) incidents was around nine minutes, the longest since August 2017.  These include 999 calls for people who have had a cardiac arrest or are struggling to breathe.

 

A spokesperson for NHS England and Improvement South West said “The NHS is exceptionally busy with the highest ever number of patients seen in A&E in September alongside managing record 999 ambulance calls, while still also delivering thousands of tests, checks, treatments and operations.

 

“That’s why people should seek help early if they do not feel well.  Anyone needing help should use 111 online first so that staff can advise on the best option for their care.”

 

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 Karen Motley, 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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