999 crews respond to 14,700 call-outs

Dec 19 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

AMBULANCE crews in the North East are under increased pressure after a huge rise in the amount of life-threatening call-outs over the last fortnight.

Staff responded to 14,700 emergency incidents in the last two weeks, an increase of 17% on the number of incidents in the same fortnight last year. The pressure has been compounded by high percentages of calls initially treated as being Category A.

In the last two weeks the service responded to 4,325 incidents defined as life-threatening which need to be answered in eight minutes or faster. This is a 42% increase on the number of life-threatening calls compared with the same period last year – December 1 to 14.

As a result the service has raised the declared pressure level at which it is operating from level 2 “concern” to level 3 “severe pressure” for the first time since the five capacity levels were introduced in late 2005.

Health chiefs are monitoring work loads on a daily basis after the increases, which are far greater than would be expected for this time of year or for current weather conditions.

Patients are also taking longer to hand over to hospitals. Normally, crews are expected to hand over a patient in 15 minutes and the Trust records every incident when this takes longer.

In the current financial year 2008-09, there has been 20,542 incidents in which the handover took longer than 15 minutes, a 38% increase on the same period in the previous financial year. Director of operations Paul Liversidge said: “Despite the current levels of demand, we are continuing to reach more patients, more quickly than ever before, so people should be reassured that we are maintaining a safe and effective service.

“In the North East we have traditionally not had a problem with delays in handing patients over to hospital.

“But our increased activity and the extra demand that hospitals are facing with patients walking-in for treatment has put added pressure on the system.”

Patients are being reminded that anyone who is not seriously ill or injured should consider other ways of getting help before dialling 999.

This can include looking after themselves at home, calling NHS Direct on 0845 4647, or making their own way to hospital.