Thousands of NHS patients enduring long ambulance waits

[Northerner]

Almost 59,000 patients in England have endured long ambulance waits before being admitted to A&E this winter, according to NHS figures.

Data from the end of November to 24 December revealed that the number of people who waited 30 minutes or longer reached 58,845. Of those, 12,188 waited more than an hour to be seen.

Hospitals are struggling to stick to stringent rules brought in for this winter by NHS England and NHS Improvement, which demand that no patient should have to wait more than 15 minutes.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...hotline-calls-peaked-in-week-before-christmas

 

[mikeyB]

That means nothing unless you know the total number of ambulance calls, and equally means nothing if outcomes aren’t mentioned. Who died as a result? Anybody?

It’s an emergency service, not a pizza delivery company. It’s a tremendous service under intolerable strain due to cuts. There’s no need to knock them, their morale is low enough without that. We should sing their praises for what they do.

 

[Northerner]

It’s a tremendous service under intolerable strain due to cuts. There’s no need to knock them, their morale is low enough without that. We should sing their praises for what they do.

This is why I think that the 'satisfaction' surveys are always looking at the wrong question. There's a very high level of satisfaction with the NHS, but that's to do with the people who work for it despite huge pressures, not because they are a well-funded organisation providing swift service to all who need to use it, which is the way the government try to spin it. Satisfied with the care and dedication of the staff, yes, but not with the way it is being undermined and run as some sort of business.