Ambulance delays force Britons to get to hospitals on their own

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Independent
10 Apr 2023 15:49

Around 55% of the adults who called 999 say they waited for an ambulance to arrive despite being in need of emergency medical care.

Ambulances are seen parked outside of the Queen's Hospital in Romford, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in London, Britain, January 11, 2022. (Reuters)

Long wait times for ambulances in the UK are forcing the majority of Britons to get to the hospital on their own during a medical emergency, figures reveal.

A Liberal Democrats study found that one in three respondents had to utilize their own vehicles or even public transportation to help their loved ones in need when ambulance response times were slow.

After what they said revealed the "horror of England's ambulance crisis," the party has called for an emergency recruitment strategy for ambulance drivers and paramedics.

This is happening as health officials issued a warning that the upcoming Easter weekend and junior doctors' four-day strike will make the NHS' current situation "even more challenging."

Concurrently, the NHS Confederation warned on Sunday that 250,000 medical procedures and appointments might be postponed owing to next week's four-day strike planned by tens of thousands of doctors in England, saying it would put dangerously sick patients at risk.

Hospital services in the UK are in disarray as a result of strikes by ambulance drivers, nurses, and physicians since last year over wages and working conditions in the publicly financed NHS. Numerous strikes have disrupted the lives of hundreds of Britons who were already under stress due to the rising cost of living.

Junior doctors are planning a four-day strike beginning Tuesday, April 11. The strike is occurring amid a particularly busy period for the NHS, with demand for services likely to be high following the Easter bank holiday weekend, and with many other NHS employees on annual leave during the school holidays.

"The horror of England's ambulance crisis"

2,093 persons in the UK who had called 999 for an ambulance last year were included in the survey conducted by market research firm Savanta.

Nearly 34% of individuals who requested an ambulance for themselves or a loved one said they drove themselves to the hospital because of the protracted wait.

It includes 17 percent of those who used personal cars to get to the hospital, 11 percent who took a cab, and six percent who even used public transport.

In spite of needing immediate medical attention, almost 55% of people who contacted emergency number 999 stated they had to wait for an ambulance to arrive.

The NHS must immediately implement a five-point plan, according to the Liberal Democrats, in order to strengthen ambulance services and relieve hospital overcrowding.

It suggests a long-term plan to boost social services, increase hospital capacity, and put an end to ambulances waiting outside hospitals.

Commenting on this issue, Daisy Cooper, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson, said, “These frightening figures reveal the horror of England’s ambulance crisis."

“Not only have ambulance services been left to pick up the slack of a broken health and care system, now people are being left to drive or even take a bus just to get to A&E because the ambulances themselves can’t get there in time,” Cooper added.