Around 500 NHS patients suffered permanent or long-term harm as a result of ambulance delays last year, more than double the number of the previous year, according to data revealed by the Labour Party. These figures also showed a steep rise in serious incidents, leading Labour to claim that the NHS is currently facing its biggest crisis in history, as it marks its 75th anniversary. The records obtained from NHS ambulance trusts indicate a total of 471 incidents last year where patients suffered permanent or long-term injuries due to delays, compared to 181 the previous year and 75 in 2019.
These incidents occurred in England amid the longest waits for ambulances on record, averaging 53 minutes for heart attack and stroke patients in 2021, reaching a peak of 93 minutes in December. This is in stark contrast to the NHS target of 18 minutes for such time-sensitive cases. The most recent published waiting times for May revealed average waits of 32 minutes.
The Labour Party obtained these figures through Freedom of Information disclosures. However, these numbers are likely to be an underestimation of the true extent of the issue, as 2 out of 10 ambulance trusts did not provide any data on severe harm cases or serious incidents. Among the trusts that did supply data, West Midlands Ambulance Service recorded the highest number of severe harm cases, with 200 incidents in 2021 compared to 41 the previous year. The same trust also reported 379 serious incidents, up from 158 in 2020.
Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, commented on the crisis, stating, The NHS is in the biggest crisis in its history, with patients waiting too long in an emergency. Too many patients might have been OK if only the ambulance had arrived in time. He criticized the Conservative government for mismanaging the NHS over the past 13 years and emphasized that the last Labour government achieved the shortest waiting times and highest patient satisfaction in history.
In response to the growing crisis, ministers have formulated an NHS recovery plan aiming to reduce response times for category two patients, such as heart attack and stroke patients, to an average of 30 minutes by March 2023. Sarah-Jane Marsh, the NHS national director of urgent and emergency care, admitted that achieving this target would be challenging. However, she assured that the NHS is taking the necessary steps to prepare for the upcoming winter season, including investing in ambulance services, expanding virtual wards, and focusing on discharging fit patients from hospitals.
Professor Steve Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, echoed the concerns about the upcoming winter and the pressures it may bring. He highlighted the challenges faced last winter, such as the simultaneous occurrence of Covid-19 and flu, and stressed the demographic changes that are not in favor of the health service. Professor Powis emphasized that the NHS is doing everything it can to be prepared but acknowledged that a better winter would be necessary.
As the NHS faces increasing pressures and challenges, it is clear that urgent measures need to be taken to address the ambulance delays that have resulted in serious harm to patients. The Labour Party has called for a stronger commitment and investment in the NHS to ensure that it can deliver timely and high-quality care to all those who need it.
