Long waits continue for ambulances in England

Latest figures from NHS England show that patients needing ambulances for life-threatening calls are often waiting longer than they should.

The figures revealed that the average response time in August was around eight and a half minutes – the target for urgent calls is seven minutes.

Data also reveals the number of patients in July waiting for routine operations rose to a record high of 5.6 million, which is the highest since records began in August 2007.

The NHS in England is expected to receive an additional £5.4bn over the next six months, the money having been allocated to help the NHS respond to Covid-19 and to tackle the backlog caused by the pandemic.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said “NHS staff have pulled out all the stops to deliver millions more tests, checks, treatments and operations than they did last summer despite caring for many more Covid patients.

“We do not know how many of those who held back from accessing care during the pandemic still need treatment, but we expect more to come forward in the coming months, and I urge anyone who needs the NHS to come forward.”

Tim Mitchell, vice president of the Royal College of Surgeons in England, said the waiting time figures showed additional funding for planned surgery was “sorely needed”.

Mr Mitchell went on to say “Behind these eye-watering statistics are patients waiting in pain for hip and knee replacements and for heart, brain and other operations.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.