Thousands At Risk Of Severe Harm Stuck In Ambulances

Tens of thousands of sick patients are being harmed as a result of ambulance delays outside hospitals, a report leaked to The Independent has warned.

- Shaun Lintern

Tens of thousands of sick patients are being harmed as a result of ambulance delays outside hospitals, a report leaked to The Independent has warned. The study, carried out for ambulance service chiefs, estimates there could be as many as 160,000 patients experiencing harm every year in England as a result of being stuck in the back of ambulances. Some 12,000 patients could be suffering severe harm, such as a cardiac arrest, loss of a limb or brain damage.

The damning report, by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), included examples of severely ill patients not being treated properly, being forced to go to the toilet in ambulances, and being denied food and drink, as well as antibiotics and fluids.

The findings underline the systemic problems within the health and social care system, which lacks the capacity and staff to meet rising patient demand. The Independent reported extensively on the summer crisis that hit ambulance services this year, with record levels of 999 calls and delays leaving patients waiting for hours for ambulances to arrive.

Safety incidents reported to NHS England by ambulance trusts have jumped 26 per cent so far this year compared to the whole 12 months of 2019. Deaths as a result of safety incidents in ambulance trusts are up 13 per cent compared to 2019.

Hospitals don’t have enough empty beds and A&E departments are stretched beyond their limits, meaning they have to force ambulances to queue for hours outside. Patients are supposed to be handed over to A&E staff within 15 minutes of an ambulance arriving, but in September this year 208,000 patients waited longer.