07.12.12
‘Zero tolerance’ for ambulance handovers
A collaborative approach could significantly reduce delays in ambulance turnaround times, a new report from the NHS Confederation shows.
Delayed turnaround times can cause extended waits for treatment, and are expensive and inefficient, the report states.
Currently, 80% of turnarounds take place within 15 minutes, but the NHS Confederation is calling for a “zero tolerance” approach from ambulance services, acute trusts, primary care providers and commissioners working together.
The report details ten recommendations, including seeing turnovers as a whole system issue, monitoring and recording processes, and for representatives at each part of the system to work together at a local level to address handover issues.
NHS Confederation interim director of policy Jo Webber said: “The vast majority of patient handovers between ambulance crews and hospital staff take place within minutes, but with nearly 5 million emergency ambulance journeys each year, and nine out of ten of these resulting in patients transported to an emergency department, it is right that the whole service looks at ways it can improve in this area. Now is the time for the NHS as a whole to take a zero tolerance approach on this.
“But this is not a problem just for ambulance services and acute hospitals. Getting the right solutions in place is a job which needs input from all health and care service components, including commissioners and the primary care sector to work out what the issues are at local level and how they can be tackled effectively.”
Health Minister Lord Howe added: “Everyone should be seen quickly when they arrive at hospital, even more so when they arrive in an ambulance. It is unacceptable for patients to be left waiting in ambulances outside hospitals.
“We want hospitals, ambulance trusts and commissioners to look closely at this report and work together to reduce long delays getting patients into A&E.
“The NHS needs to ensure it has proper plans in place to deal with high demand and we are doing everything we can to support the service in treating patients as swiftly as it can.”
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