West Midlands records increase in deaths during ambulance waits

Data has shown that there has been an increase in the number of people dying while waiting for an ambulance in the West Midlands.

 

Figures show that for the period March to May of this year, 38 people died compared to just two in the same months of 2021.  The same period in 2019 yielded no deaths.

 

West Midlands Ambulance Service said the waits were due to paramedics being delayed outside A&E departments and unable to hand over patients.

 

Martin Flaherty managing director of The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, said the current pressures on ambulance services were unprecedented and had been building for some time.

 

The Department of Health and Social Care said they recognised pressures faced by frontline NHS staff, and a spokesperson said “The NHS has allocated £150m of additional funding to address pressures on ambulance services, with the number of ambulance and support staff increasing by almost 40 per cent since February 2010.”

 

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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