Overstretched paramedics’ response times shocker

Aug 9 2009 by Alison Dayani, Sunday Mercury

The average number of emergencies reached quickly enough across the whole region dipped to 55 per cent five weeks ago and has since stuck around the 63 per cent mark.

An ambulance insider said: “The response times at West Mids are well below national targets and if you speak to any member of operational staff or control room staff, you will find out that morale has never been so low, with stress on staff building up day by day.

“The service cannot cope with the demands placed upon it and it is only a matter of time before things come crashing down.

“Highly paid executives in their ivory towers at Ambulance Headquarters and general staff have two very different perspectives on how the Trust is run.”

Mr Marsh said: “The numbers of calls to those patients who have breathing difficulties, have a headache or chest pains have seen particularly large rises. We believe this is linked to the West Midlands having one of the highest levels of swine flu cases in the country.

“The number of 999 emergency calls has risen considerably over the last four months when compared to the same period in 2008.

“The Trust is currently participating in an independent review with Primary Care Trusts which is exploring the funding received and the levels of emergency ambulances across the region.

“Our staff in our control rooms and on frontline vehicles are working extremely hard to ensure that we continue to treat those with serious and life-threatening conditions as quickly as possible.”

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “Strategic Health Authorities are responsible for managing the performance of local organisations.”