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04
Feb 2020
Critically ill patients waiting longer than hour for ambulance
An investigation by the BBC has found that stroke, heart attack and burns victims are amongst the seriously injured and ill patients waiting for longer than an hour for an ambulance to arrive in England and Wales.
Experts say these delays, which are intended to be reached in 18 minutes on average, are putting lives at risk.
Senior NHS staff place the blame on an increase in demand and delays in handing patients over at A&E. Many ambulance services have increased their staff, only to find the extra resource being swallowed up by the rise in delays faced by paramedics queuing outside hospitals.
Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said the delays were ‘undoubtedly’ linked to the continual underfunding of the NHS, adding that patients were being “let down badly at their moment of greatest need” and receiving a quick response could be “a matter of life or death”.
The Stroke Association’s Mark MacDonald, said the findings were “alarming”, adding that a speedy assessment and transfer to hospital for brain scans was crucial if a patient was to make a good recovery.
“When stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. Around two million neurons are lost every minute that a stroke is untreated.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.
Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 738
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