This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-64412922
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Norfolk coroner warns ambulance transfer delays risk future deaths | Norfolk coroner warns ambulance transfer delays risk future deaths |
| (4 months later) | |
| Ambulances were seen queuing outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 27 December | Ambulances were seen queuing outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 27 December |
| Ambulance transfer delays caused by medically fit patients not being discharged from hospital poses a risk of future deaths, a coroner has warned. | Ambulance transfer delays caused by medically fit patients not being discharged from hospital poses a risk of future deaths, a coroner has warned. |
| It follows the death of Lyn Brind, 61, who waited more than four hours in an ambulance outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn in May. | It follows the death of Lyn Brind, 61, who waited more than four hours in an ambulance outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn in May. |
| Mrs Brind's condition deteriorated and she died 30 minutes after being taken to a ward, Norfolk's coroner said. | Mrs Brind's condition deteriorated and she died 30 minutes after being taken to a ward, Norfolk's coroner said. |
| The Department of Health and Social Care said it was taking urgent action. | The Department of Health and Social Care said it was taking urgent action. |
| Coroner Jaqueline Lake warned in a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, addressed to the government, that ambulance delays and issues discharging medically fit patients had worsened since Mrs Brind's death. | Coroner Jaqueline Lake warned in a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, addressed to the government, that ambulance delays and issues discharging medically fit patients had worsened since Mrs Brind's death. |
| At the inquest she concluded Mrs Brind died from cardiac failure, but her "condition was not diagnosed nor treated in a timely fashion". | At the inquest she concluded Mrs Brind died from cardiac failure, but her "condition was not diagnosed nor treated in a timely fashion". |
| 'Wider and complex problem' | 'Wider and complex problem' |
| Evidence at the inquest heard there were "regularly too many patients in the emergency department and so ambulances cannot safely transfer patients", the coroner said. | Evidence at the inquest heard there were "regularly too many patients in the emergency department and so ambulances cannot safely transfer patients", the coroner said. |
| Ms Lake said it had been heard "this was a much wider and complex problem" related to the hospital being unable to discharge medically fit patients to the community, meaning "much needed beds" remained occupied. | Ms Lake said it had been heard "this was a much wider and complex problem" related to the hospital being unable to discharge medically fit patients to the community, meaning "much needed beds" remained occupied. |
| 'Please ask the ambulance to hurry or I'll be dead' | 'Please ask the ambulance to hurry or I'll be dead' |
| Patients dying as ambulances face crippling delays | Patients dying as ambulances face crippling delays |
| Patient forced to wait in ambulance for 12 hours | Patient forced to wait in ambulance for 12 hours |
| At the time of Mrs Brind's death on 24 May there were seven ambulances waiting to transfer patients, but by the time of the inquest this month "this had risen to 17 ambulances commonly waiting to transfer", she said. | At the time of Mrs Brind's death on 24 May there were seven ambulances waiting to transfer patients, but by the time of the inquest this month "this had risen to 17 ambulances commonly waiting to transfer", she said. |
| Ms Lake added that at the time of the inquest there had been 140 beds at the hospital occupied by patients medically fit for discharge, but there were no beds available for them in the community. | Ms Lake added that at the time of the inquest there had been 140 beds at the hospital occupied by patients medically fit for discharge, but there were no beds available for them in the community. |
| While in the ambulance outside the hospital, it was said Mrs Brind's condition deteriorated and she needed oxygen, but this was not escalated to the ambulance navigator at the hospital. | While in the ambulance outside the hospital, it was said Mrs Brind's condition deteriorated and she needed oxygen, but this was not escalated to the ambulance navigator at the hospital. |
| She was also not assessed by a senior doctor within one hour, in line with hospital protocol, the report said. | She was also not assessed by a senior doctor within one hour, in line with hospital protocol, the report said. |
| However, the coroner said she was "satisfied" both the East of England Ambulance Service and the hospital had taken steps to address the issues. | However, the coroner said she was "satisfied" both the East of England Ambulance Service and the hospital had taken steps to address the issues. |
| The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is in King's Lynn in west Norfolk | The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is in King's Lynn in west Norfolk |
| Helen Blanchard, interim chief nurse at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said it had learned lessons and implemented NHS care standards for patients waiting in ambulances. | Helen Blanchard, interim chief nurse at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said it had learned lessons and implemented NHS care standards for patients waiting in ambulances. |
| This included making sure patients were seen by a senior doctor and 30-minute observations being carried out. | This included making sure patients were seen by a senior doctor and 30-minute observations being carried out. |
| An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said it met with the hospital's serious incident team to "discuss lessons learned and to help prevent this from happening again". | An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said it met with the hospital's serious incident team to "discuss lessons learned and to help prevent this from happening again". |
| The Department of Health and Social Care said: "No-one should be waiting longer than necessary for emergency care and we are taking urgent action to reduce waiting times." | The Department of Health and Social Care said: "No-one should be waiting longer than necessary for emergency care and we are taking urgent action to reduce waiting times." |
| This included investment to free up hospital beds, reduce pressure on A&E departments and ease delays in ambulance transfer times, it said. | This included investment to free up hospital beds, reduce pressure on A&E departments and ease delays in ambulance transfer times, it said. |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| East of England Ambulance Service | East of England Ambulance Service |
| Health | |
| King's Lynn | King's Lynn |
| NHS | NHS |