Harry Dunn: Prevention of Future Deaths Report (1)

“Finally, I was made aware that one of the key problems in ensuring ambulance availability is delayed handover of patients at hospitals.”

“(2) The Inquest heard that EMAS was unable to meet mean response standards at the time of the 999 call. They had entered a sustained period where demand was outstripping the resources they had available. This was worsened by the fact that what resources they did have were being delayed at hospitals due to lengthy hospital handovers at the Accident and Emergency departments.”

“I am concerned that there are insufficient ambulance service resources to meet the needs of the City of Milton Keynes.”

“When the 999 call was made shortly following the accident no resources were available within either the operating area of the relevant ambulance trust, East Midlands Ambulance Service Trust”

“Yorkshire Ambulance Service were on their highest level of escalation at that time with significant delays at hospital handover caused or contributed to the delay in an ambulance being available to [the deceased].”

“They had entered a sustained period where demand was outstripping the resources they had available. This was worsened by the fact that what resources they did have were being delayed at hospitals due to lengthy hospital handovers at the Accident and Emergency departments.”

“My concern here Is that handover delays are impacting upon response times in respect of patients requiring emergency treatment &/or conveyance to hospital.”

“(4) I am concerned that these continuing delays for ambulances at hospital handovers reflects a risk of deaths into the future.”

“What is of concern, however, is that these gains have not been maintained and the situation has now worsened with 15-20 ambulances waiting outside the ED on occasions over the last three weeks.”

“I am concerned that these continuing delays for ambulances at hospital handovers reflects a risk of deaths into the future.”

“I am concerned that these continuing delays for ambulances at hospital handovers reflects a risk of deaths into the future.”

“The delay in an ambulance attending patients due to the unavailability of ambulances.”

“I am concerned that these continuing delays for ambulances at hospital handovers reflects a risk of deaths into the future.”

“Delay in ambulance response attributable to delays in handover of patients at Royal Cornwall Hospital”

“I am concerned that these continuing delays for ambulances at hospital handovers reflects a risk of deaths into the future.”

“Significant handover delays leading to ambulance resources being tied up at hospital with increased risk in mortality for patients in the community waiting for emergency ambulances.”

“I am concerned that these continuing delays for ambulances at hospital handovers reflects a risk of deaths into the future.”

“significant delays in the handover from the ambulance to the ED team. This was due to pressure on the ED but meant that ambulances were tied up for longer than necessary and then had a knock on impact on the ability of the ambulance service to respond to calls.”

“I am concerned that these continuing delays for ambulances at hospital handovers reflects a risk of deaths into the future.”

“Significant handover delays at RCHT and other southwest hospitals leading to ambulance resources being tied up with increased response delays and increased mortality risks for patients in the community waiting for emergency ambulances”

“I am concerned that these continuing delays for ambulances at hospital handovers reflects a risk of deaths into the future.”

“Response times for ambulances attending acute medical incidents continue to be impacted by severe delays in patient handovers at acute hospitals preventing ambulances and their crews returning to service.”

“Although EMAS reported a slight improvement in the issue of resourcing following the adoption of the newer NHS Pathways triage process the delay in paramedics attending Category 2 calls has not been resolved to within target ranges.”

“However delays in ambulances clearing ED was still having a very significant impact on their ability to respond to calls including category 2 calls such as the one for Mr [name redacted].”

“I am concerned that these continuing delays for ambulances at hospital handovers reflects a risk of deaths into the future.”

“Prolonged ambulance handover times at local hospitals were a significant factor in no ambulance being available at the time help was sought, reducing emergency response capacity during periods of high demand.”

“The Inquest heard that EMAS was unable to meet mean response standards at the time of the 999 call.”

“Ambulance handover delays affecting emergency availability Prolonged ambulance handover times at local hospitals were a significant factor in no ambulance being available at the time help was sought,”

“I am concerned that these continuing delays for ambulances at hospital handovers reflects a risk of deaths into the future.”

“These handover delays lead to the unavailability of ambulances to respond to emergency calls. Furthermore, the average handover delays conceal spikes such as that which led to the long delay in this case.”