Coroners' warnings at deadly delays in ambulance responses

Cases double from pressures In A&E

- Hanna Geissler

THERE has been a sharp rise in coroner warnings over deaths linked to delays in ambulance responses, hospital handovers and A&E waiting times.

Analysis by the Health Service Journal found problems with lack of capacity in emergency care were mentioned in 52 prevention of future death reports last year.

This was up from 21 in 2022 and four each in 2020 and 2021.

The reports are issued when coroners believe an individual or organisation should take action to prevent further tragedies.

Totals for 2020 and 2021 may have been impacted by the pandemic, when fewer people visited hospitals and inquests were delayed. But numbers were also significantly lower in pre-Covid years - there were 11 in 2019, 13 in 2018, 10 in 2017 and nine in 2016.