Ambulance chiefs criticised by Health Secretary over ‘unacceptable’ delays in ambulance handovers

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has summoned the bosses of the six worst-performing NHS trusts – Cornwall, Gloucester, Plymouth, Leicester, Birmingham and Worcester – for a discussion over ambulance handover delays.

 

Following weeks of stories emerging about elderly people enduring waits of up to 40 hours for an ambulance and then being stuck outside hospital, Mr Barclay said such delays were ‘unacceptable’ and were his biggest priority.

 

He said “There are factors outside your control.  I want to work with you to understand what’s in your control and what’s reliant on others.”

 

NHS England identified the six trusts based on the highest numbers of hours lost to handover delays and the impact that reducing delays would have on the ambulance service in their areas.

 

Dr Katherine Henderson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, recently said that the situation was a “major crisis”.

 

She said “The reasonable expectation of a healthcare system is that if you call an ambulance, an ambulance turns up quickly and you get the care you need – we have broken that fundamental promise with the public of being able to do that.”

 

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 Tony May, Partner/head of 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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