Failing ambulance response times putting Lincolnshire Police under pressure
Lives are being put at risk because of failing ambulance response times – according to a Lincolnshire county councillor.
Councillor and Lincolnshire Police Authority member Chris Underwood-Frost has slammed East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) after it emerged police attending emergencies are ferrying injured people to hospitals because ambulances do not turn up in time.
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EMAS is the only trust in England failing to arrive at scenes of life-threatening incidents inside 19 minutes.
According to national objectives a double-crewed ambulance must meet this time-frame.
Figures reveal 84 per cent of incidents in Lincolnshire are attended within 19 minutes – 11 per cent shy of the 95 per cent national target.
East Midlands achieves 93 per cent while the overall percentage for England is at 97 per cent.
Mr Underwood-Frost said: "There is no doubt lives are being put at severe risk because of this.
"Sometimes when an ambulance is called there just isn't one available.
"It is a positive thing that the police are on the scene quickly but they are not medically trained and it is just a matter of time before something goes horribly wrong.
"We need to recognise this very serious issue.
"Police officers are moving or treating people they are simply not trained to move or treat.
"Police intervention has been rising in recent times and it's applying too much pressure on the police force."
An overview and scrutiny management meeting at Lincolnshire County Council heard how one victim in the county had to wait 90 minutes for an ambulance.
There have also been reports of one paramedic attending incidents despite national targets clearly stating ambulances must be double-crewed.
Russ Hardy, chief superintendent of operations support for Lincolnshire Police, said: "All our officers are trained in basic first aid procedures and where they are first on the scene of an incident their priority would be to ensure that anyone injured would be given appropriate first aid prior to the arrival of trained medical personnel.
"In situations where an ambulance is needed but is not immediately available, after providing appropriate first aid, officers would make a judgement, depending on the specific circumstances and whether it is expedient and safe to transport a patient to hospital rather than wait for the arrival of an ambulance."
Lincolnshire Police said it does not keep a record of when officers have provided transport or treatment for patients.
Phil Morris, spokesman for East Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We do not keep statistics on the occasions when the police transport people to hospital and have no knowledge of any recent cases arising.
"If police officers decide it's in the patient's best interests for the officer to provide transport to hospital, then we would fully support their decision."
However, county councillor Christine Talbot was unconvinced. She said: "We are not getting the service we are paying for. This is taxpayers' money we are talking about.
"East Midlands Ambulance Service received £21.5 million last year with an uplift of £2.3 million. They are now saying they want an extra £8 million to resolve the problem.
"Someone has to take responsibility for this because it just isn't good enough."
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by Gnome_Chomsky
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 10:48PM
“This was inevitable when Lincolnshire Ambulance joined EMAS. The rest of the region can meet their targets, because they have population centres.
Lincolnshire has small towns and villages. Most of the EMAS catchment is not in Lincolnshire,and largely in towns, so they can meet their targets even after cutting services to our county.”
by examiner2
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 2:55PM
“"The biggest problem is the size and rural nature of the county. Lincolnshire is not the only county that has remote villages such as North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Devon & Cornwall,Nothumbria.. but they seem to meet the target. At least Lincolnshire is flat and not rammed to the hilt with tourists most of the summer.”
by M_C_Donald
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 12:32PM
“Also the amalgamation of the fire and ambulance services. It works well in other countries, so why not ours?"
It has been suggested but the Fire Union was against it.”
by gsx1100
Monday, January 30 2012, 7:30PM
“The point I was making Wilsonisme1, was, it is not always practical to make a remote diagnosis. At some point a mistake will be made and someone could lose their lives.
You said charge for self inflicted injuries or illness, I just asked where do you draw the line?
When a work colleague collapsed after a heart attack, the ambulance was ages before leaving because the paramedics were more concerned about getting him stabilised before transporting him. In his case, and many more I would have thought, it was the rapid response treatment which was more important to his wellbeing rather than removal to hospital.
I agree that service should be well funded and something done about the drunks, but on the latter, all the government want to do is raise the alcohol tax and punish the majority for the actions of the minority.
As for suggestions, I would like to see basic life saving, first aid taught in schools, then, perhaps, people could more easily recognise what is, or isn't, an emergency. Also the amalgamation of the fire and ambulance services. It works well in other countries, so why not ours?”
by M_C_Donald
Monday, January 30 2012, 1:56PM
“The biggest problem is the size and rural nature of the county. While it is easy to meet response times in the towns, out of town times will be difficult to meet. Narrow roads and the remoteness of villages and settlements all add to response times.
The only solution would be more ambulances diversely spread over over the county, of course that will cost.”