Trial of 111 service led to increase in ambulance calls

East Anglia: Fire union attacks failing response times of ambulance service

By Lauren Everitt Tuesday, January 29, 2013
8:05 AM

FIRE union chiefs have launched a blistering attack on the East of England Ambulance Service, saying failing response times are like a “gaping wound”.

The ambulance service’s response:

AN EEAST spokesman said: “Often it is not the case that ambulances are unavailable, simply that the information we are given from the scene indicates a non-emergency, so the patient is given a longer waiting time than one in a life-threatening condition under the national prioritisation system.

“We have already revealed plans to improve our response times with a raft of measures but it is important to remember response targets are set from between eight minutes to an hour according to thoroughly assessed clinical need and, while a longer target may not be ideal for police and fire crews, it means those in life-threatening situations are prioritised, similar to the way they are at A&E, to get life-saving help first.

“We want to do everything possible as emergency services to help one another, and we take genuine delays seriously so would therefore urge concerned fire and police officers to contact us about specific case details so it can be properly investigated.”

The spokesman added that EEAST has a raft of measures planned to improve response times including 140 new frontline staff, more powers at local level, new cars staffed by advance paramedics to treat less serious patients in their home and better designed rotas. The measures are due to come into force in two months time.

He said: “Under these plans our main focus will be on the quality of services and compassion to patients, and giving practical support to hospitals to enable faster turnaround times.”

The criticism comes as new figures, published in a report to be discussed at tomorrow’s NHS Suffolk board meeting, show EEAST failed to respond to category ‘red’ patients – those in an immediately life-threatening condition – within both the eight-minute and 19-minute targets.

In November, 68.6% of ‘red’ calls were responded to within eight minutes and 88.9% within 19 minutes in Suffolk compared to the national target of 75% and 95% respectively.

Keith Handscomb, regional representative for the Fire Brigades Union, said: “Something needs to be done but looking for a sticking plaster to treat a gaping wound is not the answer. For those who find themselves in medical emergencies, this is a matter of life or death importance.”

He added: “We applaud the skills and commitment of the professional paramedics and ambulance crews we work alongside but fire crews are telling us something is going seriously wrong with the 999 response of EEAST.

“Fire crews tell us they and casualties are waiting longer and longer for the arrival of paramedics and ambulances. When a paramedic does arrive they are often on their own in a car or on a motorbike and are unable to take seriously injured casualties to hospital. Fire officers tell us of their desperate frustration at being told to wait in line when chasing up emergency requests for the attendance of an ambulance – sometimes they are told the ambulance sent to their emergency has been redirected to another call due to there being no other ambulance available.”

Mr Handscomb said the number of staff across all three emergency services in East Anglia are being cut.

“A little extra first aid training for police officers and firefighters might sound like a cheap solution to ambulance delays, but when any of us find ourselves in a serious medical emergency, what we really, really need, really, really quickly, are professional paramedics and ambulance crews to treat us and take us to hospital,” he added.

An NHS Suffolk spokesman said the organisation was working with EEAST to ensure response times meet the national benchmark.

“Patients in rural and urban communities who need urgent treatment should be able to access this easily, quickly and consistently,” he added.

“The rural nature of Suffolk can make meeting these targets more difficult than in other parts of the county.”

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3 comments

I am a paramedic in the EEAT and while I have the highest regard for the skill and professionalism of police and fire service colleagues the views in this report from the FBU and the recent report of police concerns should take into account the issues within their own service before they start jumping on the recent bandwagon and attacking the ambulance service. Yes, there has certainly been much mismanagement of the way the ambulance service has been run in recent years and it doesn't look like improving anytime soon. There is a great deal that could be and needs to be improved but at times there are simply not enough resources to cope with demand, and when this is the case then people with less serious problems will have to wait longer then someone in an immediate life threatening condition. As stated, some of the delays are due to poor management but that is only part of the picture. Ambulances spend a considerable amount of time dealing with inappropriate calls (drunks and people with no common sense that call for a paper cut and say they're bleeding badly for starters), and also spend a fast amount of time dealing with primary care issues when doctors surgeries are closed. To solve the crisis, sort out management, educate the public, and go back to providing 24 hour access to GPs as the out of hours system as a whole DOES NOT WORK. As far as recent concerns of other emergency services go, yes it's a worrying whats happening and they shouldn't put in those situations, but there are just as many problems with the also underfunded and over stretched police service. As a paramedic I have lost count of the number of times the police have refused to attend incidents when requested, or I have had to wait for an officer to come from the other side of the county. The same goes for all my colleagues. As for the FBU opinion above, (as stated I have nothing but praise for my fire service colleagues which include many personal friends) but in any one RRV single manned shift I will always deal with more calls than my colleagues at the local station and have on several occasion dealt with more calls in a single night shift than the whole of Norfolk and Suffolk fire service put together! Yes the ambulance service (those above frontline staff) have many issues to deal with but so do the other emergency services! The FBUs opinion would change dramatically if they ever have to deal with the same number of calls with the same level of resources that the ambulance or police services do everyday!

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Annoyed

Tuesday, January 29, 2013
All I've got to say is who stood up in the Commons and said "safe in our hands" ??

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freedomf

Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Is there a doctor in the house ? Dr Poulter MP required again. I note the explanation by the EEAST spokesperson but surely if the Fire and Rescue are in attendance, it shows it is an emergency situation; Also, why will it take another two months to implement the "new measures" ? When other emergency services start complaining, things have got to be bad.

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The original Victor Meldrew

Tuesday, January 29, 2013