Ambulance Service Chief Expresses Confidence in Winter Readiness

The head of an ambulance service has expressed confidence that its operational performance will see improvement during the upcoming winter season. Dan Ainsworth, representing the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), stated that the service is equipped to manage the demands of the busy festive period, citing an increase in both personnel and vehicles. During the period of 2021 to 2022, the average response time for Category 2 incidents, which include conditions like strokes and burns, exceeded 47 minutes. This figure contrasts with the NHS target of 18 minutes for such incidents. Mr. Ainsworth encouraged patients, stating: “Do contact us, and we will respond.” NWAS has acquired 32 new emergency vehicles, increasing its total ambulance fleet to 553, and has recruited approximately 280 additional staff members. Response times have reverted to levels observed prior to the pandemic. Mr. Ainsworth also mentioned that the service is collaborating with hospitals to prevent ambulances from experiencing delays at A&E departments, which occur when patients cannot be handed over due to insufficient beds and social care resources. He clarified that factors such as shorter daylight hours, an increase in call volumes, and a rise in flu cases contribute to the NHS anticipating a demanding winter season. Consequently, he emphasized that individuals attending hospital “absolutely needed to be there.” He indicated that patients would receive guidance on accessing alternative services, such as NHS 11 and pharmacy care. He stated, “We understand the healthcare system will work best when we work in partnership.” He further added, “Last winter we did a huge amount of work improving our front line workforce and we have continued to build upon that to ensure all of those vehicles are available through winter.” Linda Morris, aged 75, commented that overall, there remains scope for enhancement. She recounted that her 87-year-old husband was compelled to “crawl home” after spending more than three hours on the ground following a fall in Leigh. This particular incident, she noted, would not have been classified as a Category 2 by NWAS. Mrs. Morris stated: “He shouldn’t have had to wait on the floor. It was an emergency, and it was very cold.” For Category 3 incidents, defined as urgent issues requiring transfer for specialized treatment like abdominal problems and diabetes complications, the response target mandates that 90% of calls be addressed within 120 minutes. Category 4 calls, which are considered non-urgent and encompass issues such as falls and back problems, have a target of 90% response within 180 minutes. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC does not assume responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.