Ambulance trust narrowly misses response time target (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Ambulance trust narrowly misses response time target
9:00pm Monday 6th February 2012 in News
THE North West Ambulance Service has defended its response times after it failed to meet one of its key targets.
New figures have revealed that a third of ambulance trusts were unable to reach enough of the most seriously ill patients within the required time in December.
Four of England's 12 ambulance trusts, including North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), missed targets for reaching 95 per cent of Category A patients within 19 minutes.
The Department of Health stipulates that an ambulance or other vehicle capable of taking them to hospital should reach 95 per cent of ‘Category A’ cases, where a person's life is in immediate danger, within this time.
However, NWAS said it had missed this target by just 0.35 per cent.
A spokesman for the trust said: “North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust has achieved its target of 95 per cent for ‘Category A 19 minute response’ every month this financial year, apart from December 2011, when it achieved 94.65 per cent - 0.35 per cent below the target.
“This was due to an increase in the number of calls received during that period.
“Our year to date performance shows that we have achieved 95.85 per cent.”
Nationwide, 96.1 per cent of such calls received a response within 19 minutes in December, compared to 96.8 per cent for the eight months from April to December 2011.
A Department of Health spokesman said the increase was due to an increase in demand over the holiday season.
He said: “December saw a greater number of people going to hospital by ambulance than previous months, but despite this, the NHS is still on course to meet its targets by the end of the year.
“Patients should be able to expect a coherent 24/7 urgent and emergency care service which is accessible and safe.
“We expect all ambulance trusts, commissioners and the wider NHS to look at the data for their region and perform at the highest level.”
Comments(7)
Between_the_lions
says...
12:02am Tue 7 Feb 12
cloud99
says...
7:38am Tue 7 Feb 12
Between_the_lions wrote:Well said.
If time wasters weren't taking up valuable resources maybe they would reach the seriously ill quicker.
If it wasn't for the time wasters and the idiots that don't get out of the way for the ambulances, their target would easily be met.
ladysal
says...
9:00am Tue 7 Feb 12
cloud99 wrote:Definitely.
Between_the_lions wrote: If time wasters weren't taking up valuable resources maybe they would reach the seriously ill quicker.Well said. If it wasn't for the time wasters and the idiots that don't get out of the way for the ambulances, their target would easily be met.
I have been in ambulances (observing, not being treated) and heard some utterly ridiculous calls come over the radio. Likewise, I have been on calls where the blue lights on the ambulance turned the snow in front of the car in front blue and they still didn't notice that they were hogging the only clear lane......
mavrick
says...
11:00am Tue 7 Feb 12
Between_the_lions
says...
1:42pm Tue 7 Feb 12
who lays down pretending to have collapsed. He will do this either on the pavement or the road, the police drive by and ignore him probably because they will get a bollocking from their duty sergeant for bring an 'high maintenance & disruptive' individual to the custody suite.
Eventually someone will phone this idiot an ambulance, wasting resources.
I have walked past him many times and told him to eff off when he has asked for an ambulance. He immediately gets up and gets abusive.
So, if a fat idiot is laying on the ground (probably in a cowboy outfit) don't call him an ambulance, call his bluff and see if he gets up.
ladysal
says...
9:51am Wed 8 Feb 12
Between_the_lions wrote:I know just who you mean. When he isn't doing that you will find him outside Tescos, trying to beg....... It drives the staff nuts, but he always stands just outside the area where they are allowed to move him on.
There is an idiot on Whalley Banks (Ok, there are lots of idiots on Whalley Banks) who lays down pretending to have collapsed. He will do this either on the pavement or the road, the police drive by and ignore him probably because they will get a bollocking from their duty sergeant for bring an 'high maintenance & disruptive' individual to the custody suite. Eventually someone will phone this idiot an ambulance, wasting resources. I have walked past him many times and told him to eff off when he has asked for an ambulance. He immediately gets up and gets abusive. So, if a fat idiot is laying on the ground (probably in a cowboy outfit) don't call him an ambulance, call his bluff and see if he gets up.
Fire Fly says...
10:23pm Mon 6 Feb 12
From my office, I watch daily how drivers hinder the path of Ambulance & Police crews with lights & sirens on by not moving out of the way because they either aren't paying attention or musics on too loud etc. It must add up to so many hours, that I suspect, are never truly evaluated.