Patients dying as English ambulances face crippling delays

The NHS ambulance service is currently gridlocked, with 29% of around 80,000 ambulances stuck outside of hospitals in queues over the past 7 days. This is almost double the pre-pandemic levels.

The Association of Ambulance chief executives stated that in October alone, due to the delays of ambulances, 44,000 patients may have come to harm. Ambulance crews are expected to be able to hand over their patients to hospital staff within 15 minutes, but over a quarter of crews are having to wait over 30 minutes.

The impact of this is twofold; not only is the care of patients inside the ambulance being compromised, but the ambulance teams are also unable to leave the hospital to collect new patients.

During winter this poses a larger than normal threat to the NHS. Statistics are suggesting that the NHS is facing one of the worst winters in decades, according to Matthew Taylor, of the NHS Confederation.

At a time when 19 out of 20 beds are taken, and ambulance crews are struggling to get patients through the door, the problems are bound to continue.

400 patients in hospital have confirmed cases of flu at the start of the flu season. That figure is three times higher than the peak figure seen last winter.

The knock-on impact of the pressure that the NHS is under will have an impact on the decision making and care afforded to NHS patients this winter. Whilst medical professionals are highly trained and in positions of trust, under this pressure mistakes are likely to happen. These mistakes may impact us directly, or our loved ones.

Further reading

Accident and Emergency department claims – Oakwood Solicitors

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If you or a loved one have been affected by delays in the ambulance service, then please feel free to contact us on 0113 200 9720.