Ambulance crisis

Written by Sadiya Zaib, Assistant Litigation Executive, in the medical negligence department at Fletchers:

The NHS is approaching a crisis point like never before.

Health and social care is suffering from chronic under funding from the Government. Demand is increasing and in 2016-2017 the number of ambulance call outs for people experiencing mental health problems rose by 23%.

Not only is there the issue of demand, but Brexit fears suggest that there has been an increase in numbers of European Union trained ambulance staff quitting the NHS.

The service, however, faces year on year growth in call volumes, without resources to match. The crisis is only set to worsen over the coming months.

With winter at our doorstep, the NHS is planning ahead in order to cope with rising demand. Last year, the demand for emergency services rose significantly, with on call ambulance services stretched and at capacity.

Reports also surfaced of ambulances having to wait outside overstretched and full A&E departments.

In January 2018, investigations revealed that there were 22 serious incidents highlighted in the East of England Ambulance Service Trust.

Several claims were made last year that a number of people had died after long waits for ambulances.

The sustainability of the UK’s 999 ambulance service is of huge public concern. Facing year on year growth in call volumes, however, without the resources to match, it is now widely considered another part of the NHS that is ‘in crisis’ or ‘failing’, measured by the ten ambulance trusts in England repeatedly struggling to meet response times.

As demand for the ambulance service increases and Brexit fears continue to have adverse effects on employees, it is likely that the burden on the ambulance service throughout the country will be dramatically affected.

If you have been affected by delays, please contact us on 0330 013 0243.