Is our ambulance service in need of 999 urgent care?

A recent investigation by the BBC uncovered a staggering increase in the cost that ambulance trusts ( the bodies that control the regional ambulance services), spend on voluntary organisations and private companies, to respond to 999 calls.

The number of calls for 999 emergency response rose by 4.9% in 2015, according to NHS England. However, the increase in costs to private companies rose much higher, from £22.1m in 2011-12 to £68.7million in 2015-16.

In March alone, the ambulance service took 860,000 calls, equating to around 27,000 a day. However, unions argue that insufficient staffing levels play a huge role in under performance and that money spent on private companies should instead be invested in staff. Recent information by the College of Paramedics, signify that there are real problems recruiting and more significantly retaining paramedics, many who now have to be trained to degree level.

Despite the increase in spending performance targets remain amongst the lowest in the NHS. In March, just 66.5% of red one calls and 58% of red two calls were dealt within the 8 minute timescale required, for the most serious categories of response, namely cardiac arrests and patients who are not breathing.

In the past 5 years, 35 patients have died after significant delays of over 6 hours in an ambulance arriving to them and other mistakes by the 999 call handlers. Amongst these deaths include a nine-month-old baby, two other children, a student nurse, a mother-to-be and an 87-year-old woman with dementia.

Official warnings by coroners in England and Wales have highlighted the problems of lack of resources together with a lack of effective response to urgent 999 calls is costing lives.

Carlos Lopez, head of Clinical negligence at Vincents Solicitors commented, “These are worrying statistics. Over my 20 years of practice, not only have I seen an increase in claims and enquiries arising out of paramedic and ambulance service negligence, but I have also witnessed an increase in the severity of injury of these claims, many of which sadly involve death. More investment is needed in the 999 ambulance service to ensure that the 8 minute response time for red one and red two calls is achieved. Paramedics should be in the community treating urgent cases, not delayed waiting with patients in hospital corridors. “

If you feel that you have been affected by any of these issues, or any other area of clinical negligence, call the team at Vincents on 01772 555 172