Volunteers will transport patients to hospital to increase ambulance availability for higher-risk patients

The pilot scheme, using ambulance cars, is due to start in London next month.  London Ambulance Service said the trained volunteers would be sent to lower category 999 calls whether the patient needed help to get to hospital, aiming to reduce waiting times and increase ambulance availability.

 

A recent service board meeting heard that currently taxis are used to transport “low acuity patients” to hospital, but there were some patients who required “the assistance of one person to walk or mobilise”, which taxis could not provide.

 

“This results in the dispatch of an emergency ambulance, reducing ambulance availability for higher priority incidents and longer waiting times for patients.

 

“The project is supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement who are looking to implement a national volunteer transport model based using our model.”

 

A spokesperson for the service said “This project builds on our well-established network of volunteers who respond to emergencies to help ensure our ambulances can reach the patients that need us the most.

 

“These fully trained volunteers, who already respond to 999 calls in their communities, will help patients who have been assessed not to need an ambulance but who may need more support than a taxi can provide.”

 

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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