NHS Calls for Responsible Ambulance Use in South-West England to Ease Winter Pressure

Residents of south-west England have received a call to utilize ambulance services judiciously this winter, aiming to alleviate strain on emergency vehicles and accident and emergency departments (A&E). The South Western Ambulance Service (SWAST), part of the NHS, indicated an anticipation of increased demand in the upcoming period, advising individuals to opt for alternative services when it is safe to do so. Dr. Matt Thomas, the executive medical director, stated: “If people call 999 and they need help, we will make sure they are getting that help.” Nevertheless, he clarified that assistance “doesn’t always [need to] look like an ambulance,” potentially involving a doctor or paramedic providing support via telephone or dispatching another healthcare professional to the patient’s location. He also mentioned that individuals might sometimes be directed to different services or instructed to proceed to a minor injuries unit independently, as this could represent “the best help available right now.” During the previous winter, the region experienced some of the lengthiest ambulance handover times across England, defined as the duration from an ambulance’s arrival at a hospital until the patient is transferred to A&E personnel. From Christmas to New Year 2023, almost 80% of patients in Plymouth faced waits exceeding 30 minutes, with over 66% experiencing similar delays in Truro. Official guidelines stipulate that this process should ideally be completed within 15 minutes for patients transported by ambulance. Earlier in the current year, data from the NHS revealed that hospitals in the region recorded the poorest transfer times among all English hospitals, with 40% of patients enduring waits exceeding an hour, in contrast to a national average of 8.8%. Dr. Thomas stated that the NHS had implemented “some systems in place” to enhance handover times and expressed “confidence” that improvements would be seen this year. He remarked: “We know that it’s going to be a busy winter, I’m not saying we’re not going to have any challenges.” Dr. Thomas noted that the NHS employs “dedicated paramedics” within hospitals to assist in guiding patients to the most appropriate service. He further added: “We’re also asking the public to realise there are more ways to access the help that you need than calling an ambulance and going to the emergency department.“It’s everyone working together to make sure we get the right help to the right patients when they need it.”If there are a truly life-threatening injury or illness, we want to be able to get our ambulances to it.” The operational area of SWAST encompasses Bristol and the former Avon region, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.