South West ambulance service delays in hand overs ‘risk patient lives’

An ambulance service has warned patient lives are at risk due to long delays in handovers.

 

The director of South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said bed-blocking was the reason for delays in transferring patients from an ambulance to hospital and a spokesperson said it was “soul-destroying” for their paramedics.

 

An official from the Department of Health and Social Care said an additional £150m had been allocated in an attempt to relieve the pressure, adding “We recognise the pressure NHS staff are under, especially those on the front-line … with the number of ambulance and support staff increasing by almost 40 per cent since February 2010.

 

“We have supported NHS bodies and local authorities with updated hospital-discharge guidance to ensure smooth discharges.”

 

A recent report obtained by the BBC said there were a total of 41 incidents of “serious harm” to patients, adding that crews were often left waiting outside emergency departments and “experienced staff report feeling ready to leave critical roles, which, if left to continue, will render the crisis in healthcare still more of a challenge to overcome.”

 

Adrian South, deputy director of the trust, insisted the service was well-staffed and had more ambulances on the road than ever before, adding “We’re doing everything we can.  The challenge is that we’re not able to hand our patients over, but that’s a real problem with the system.

 

“We have to make sure that our patients who are waiting much longer with us are fed, receive fluids – and toileting and personal care needs are taken care of.

 

“So things that ambulance paramedics even two years ago would have never dreamt they would be delivering for such long periods of time.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

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.

 

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