Commenting on the pilot scheme that will give emergency call handlers more time before deciding whether an ambulance should be dispatched, Alan Lofthouse, UNISON national officer said:
“The NHS is in its busiest months and it’s crucial that patients’ safety in the two areas piloted is not compromised. In an emergency, every second counts and the response time can often dictate whether patients live or die. We want to see this pilot properly evaluated before it’s rolled out any further.
“A lack of resources mean serious staff shortages and not enough ambulances. And the pressures on the service are so great that many paramedics are now leaving the profession.
“With cuts to social care budgets, closures of local medical centres and the pressures on A&E departments it is no surprise that thedemand for emergency services is unprecedented.
“The situation will only improve if the government addresses the root of the problem by funding the NHS properly, investing in better care in the community and rewarding staff with a decent pay rise.”
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UNISON comments on new ambulance call handling time pilot
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