John Murphy
22 Apr 2022 · Coroner Lauren Costello · Manchester South
A similar concern from this report was raised again 4 times later. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. delay in paramedics attending Category 2 calls
“Despite a number of measures being undertaken by the North West Ambulance Service, the delay in paramedics attending Category 2 calls has not been resolved to within target ranges because there are residual staff and emergency vehicle shortages”
2. delays in ambulances clearing Accident and Emergency departments
“The resources available in the North West Ambulance Service cannot be fully utilised because of the delays in ambulances clearing Accident and Emergency departments caused by the pressure on these departments across the NHS”
Linked reports
Identical hazardConfidence 0.90 · high
This report
“Despite a number of measures being undertaken by the North West Ambulance Service, the delay in paramedics attending Category 2 calls has not been resolved to within target ranges because there are residual staff and emergency vehicle shortages.”
Later report
“long delays in ambulance response to Category 2 calls create a risk that other deaths will occur in the future.”
Identical hazardConfidence 0.98 · high
This report
“Despite a number of measures being undertaken by the North West Ambulance Service, the delay in paramedics attending Category 2 calls has not been resolved to within target ranges because there are residual staff and emergency vehicle shortages.”
Later report
“Despite a number of measures being undertaken by the North West Ambulance Service, the delay in paramedics attending Category 2 calls has not been resolved to within target ranges because there are residual staff and emergency vehicle shortages.”
Identical hazardConfidence 0.95 · high
This report
“Despite a number of measures being undertaken by the North West Ambulance Service, the delay in paramedics attending Category 2 calls has not been resolved to within target ranges because there are residual staff and emergency vehicle shortages.”
Later report
“Despite a number of measures being undertaken by the North West Ambulance Service, the delay in paramedics attending Category 2 calls has not been resolved to within target ranges. This is because resources available in the North West Ambulance Service cannot be fully utilised as a result of the delays in ambulances clearing Accident and Emergency departments.”
Identical hazardConfidence 0.95 · high
This report
“The resources available in the North West Ambulance Service cannot be fully utilised because of the delays in ambulances clearing Accident and Emergency departments caused by the pressure on these departments across the NHS.”
Later report
“delays in ambulances clearing ED was still having a very significant impact on their ability to respond to calls including category 2 calls”
Responses
2022-0126-Response-from-Department-of-Health-and-Social-Care.pdf ↗· Department of Health and Social Care
Stated action
“The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) lead commissioners, representatives from the local health system and NHS England have developed a 6-point winter improvement plan concentrating on key actions to assist in improving performance levels for 999 and Urgent and Emergency Care.”