Ambulance diversions

The BBC and the Guardian report that the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) has begun asking ambulances to stop for second emergencies.

A spokesperson for the service, which serves six million people across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, said that paramedics would only be diverted to collect a second patient when the first patient was clinically stable. However, a paramedic – who wished to remain anonymous – told the BBC that the policy put staff in a difficult position as the first patient could be forced to wait for hours in the ambulance whilst crews tended to a second patient. The  new measure was adopted to improve response times to category one, life-threatening situations as the EEAS was ranked the worst of all 10 ambulance trusts in England for this category in August.

Full article:

→ The Guardian - Ambulance trust to send occupied vehicles to new emergency calls

→ BBC News - Ambulances to stop for additional emergency patients