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Secamb boss Paul Sutton leaves post after 111 scandal | Secamb boss Paul Sutton leaves post after 111 scandal |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The chief executive of a scandal-hit NHS trust which came under intense scrutiny over emergency callouts has left his job. | |
Paul Sutton, who had been on a leave of absence from South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb), will now "pursue other interests". | |
Last year, it emerged the trust ran a secret and controversial pilot which delayed sending help for some calls. | |
A review said failings in how the trust was run led to the "high risk" project. | |
The pilot did not have approval from board members, the 111 NHS helpline or commissioners. | |
Up to 20,000 patients had their ambulances delayed. | Up to 20,000 patients had their ambulances delayed. |
How call-handling was changed | How call-handling was changed |
Secamb provides NHS 111 services across the region and responds to 999 calls. | Secamb provides NHS 111 services across the region and responds to 999 calls. |
Some 111 calls were transferred to the 999 system to give Secamb more time for more urgent calls. | Some 111 calls were transferred to the 999 system to give Secamb more time for more urgent calls. |
The calls affected were in the second most serious category - Category A Red 2 - which covers conditions like strokes or fits but which are less critical than where people are non responsive. | The calls affected were in the second most serious category - Category A Red 2 - which covers conditions like strokes or fits but which are less critical than where people are non responsive. |
Under NHS rules, calls designated as life-threatening are supposed to receive an ambulance response within eight minutes. | Under NHS rules, calls designated as life-threatening are supposed to receive an ambulance response within eight minutes. |
The trust allowed itself an extra 10 minutes to deal with some calls by "re-triaging" patients in the 999 system. | The trust allowed itself an extra 10 minutes to deal with some calls by "re-triaging" patients in the 999 system. |
Secamb said the process for finding a permanent replacement would start immediately and in the interim period, Geraint Davies would continue as acting chief executive. | Secamb said the process for finding a permanent replacement would start immediately and in the interim period, Geraint Davies would continue as acting chief executive. |
Its chairman, Tony Thorne, resigned as the report by Deloitte was released. | Its chairman, Tony Thorne, resigned as the report by Deloitte was released. |
The review said there was a strong suggestion of an "intentional effort by members of the executive team to present their scheme in a positive light despite its governance failings and risks." | The review said there was a strong suggestion of an "intentional effort by members of the executive team to present their scheme in a positive light despite its governance failings and risks." |
And it said: "The CEO made the ultimate decision to proceed with the pilot and played a critical leadership role throughout". | And it said: "The CEO made the ultimate decision to proceed with the pilot and played a critical leadership role throughout". |
Patient safety | |
Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, paid tribute to the professionalism of ambulance staff "from the frontline to the top". | |
He said he would continue to focus his attention "on making sure Secamb implements the reforms to the way it is governed and managed to ensure patient safety into the future". | |
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients' Association, said: "Any decision that downgrades urgent category ambulance calls in order to massage performance targets is deplorable. | |
"This scheme was dangerous... It is right that the leaders of Secamb are held responsible for their actions. | |
"The trust should apologise to all those affected and the NHS should ensure this never occurs again at any trust." |