A&E patients increase ‘national not just East Lancashire problem’

The Lancashire Telegraph has obtained statistics under the Freedom of Information Act which reveal the turnaround time for ambulances.

They show the time taken for ambulances visiting Royal Blackburn Hospital’s A&E to drop off patients and get back on the road is no worse than other North West hospitals.

Royal Blackburn was criticised during the winter after paramedics regularly had to wait outside.

On one occasion, the department became so overcrowded it had to be closed for three hours.

Critics blamed the problems on the closure of Burnley’s A&E in November 2007.

But data from North West Ambulance Service shows paramedics’ weekly average turnaround time peaked at 29 minutes 56 seconds at the Royal Blackburn Hospital in December.

This compared to Bolton’s high of 45min 50s a week later.

Both were outperformed by the Royal Preston Hospital, where the peak average time was 24min 49s, in August, and Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where weekly averages have not topped 22 minutes since before July last year.

Lynn Wissett, deputy chief executive and director for clinical care and governance, said: “This is down to the commitment and hard work of our North West Ambulance colleagues working closely with our emergency and urgent care staff to ensure those needing emergency treatment get into hospital and get seen by the right people as quickly as possible.

“The consistent performance of ambulance turnaround times along with the high level of care at East Lancashire’s dedicated Emergency Department have resulted in lower death rates, showing the changes have improved patient outcomes – not diminished them.”

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “It is important to note that during the winter period, particularly November and December 2008, there was a substantial increase in patient activity which impacted upon the whole of the NHS system, locally, regionally and nationally.”