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| North West Ambulance chief says service prepared for winter pressures | |
| (3 months later) | |
| The North West Ambulance Service has a fleet of 553 vehicles | The North West Ambulance Service has a fleet of 553 vehicles |
| An ambulance service boss has said he is confident its performance will improve this winter. | An ambulance service boss has said he is confident its performance will improve this winter. |
| Dan Ainsworth, from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said the system could cope during the busy festive period because it had more staff and vehicles. | Dan Ainsworth, from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said the system could cope during the busy festive period because it had more staff and vehicles. |
| In 2021 to 2022, the average response time for Category 2 incidents such as strokes and burns was more than 47 minutes, against an NHS target of 18 minutes. | In 2021 to 2022, the average response time for Category 2 incidents such as strokes and burns was more than 47 minutes, against an NHS target of 18 minutes. |
| Mr Ainsworth urged patients: "Do contact us, and we will respond." | Mr Ainsworth urged patients: "Do contact us, and we will respond." |
| Dan Ainsworth is the Director of Operations at the North West Ambulance Service | Dan Ainsworth is the Director of Operations at the North West Ambulance Service |
| NWAS has 32 new emergency vehicles - bringing the total up to 553 ambulances - and has taken on about 280 extra staff. | NWAS has 32 new emergency vehicles - bringing the total up to 553 ambulances - and has taken on about 280 extra staff. |
| Response times have returned to pre-pandemic levels. | Response times have returned to pre-pandemic levels. |
| Mr Ainsworth said the service was also working with hospitals to make sure ambulances were not waiting at A&E because they could not hand over patients, due to a lack of beds and social care provision. | Mr Ainsworth said the service was also working with hospitals to make sure ambulances were not waiting at A&E because they could not hand over patients, due to a lack of beds and social care provision. |
| He explained that dark nights, more calls and a rise in flu cases, were some of the reasons the NHS faced a busy winter period, so it was important anyone who went to hospital "absolutely needed to be there". | He explained that dark nights, more calls and a rise in flu cases, were some of the reasons the NHS faced a busy winter period, so it was important anyone who went to hospital "absolutely needed to be there". |
| He said patients would be advised how to navigate other services, including NHS 11 and pharmacy care. | He said patients would be advised how to navigate other services, including NHS 11 and pharmacy care. |
| "We understand the healthcare system will work best when we work in partnership," he said. | "We understand the healthcare system will work best when we work in partnership," he said. |
| "Last winter we did a huge amount of work improving our front line workforce and we have continued to build upon that to ensure all of those vehicles are available through winter," he added. | "Last winter we did a huge amount of work improving our front line workforce and we have continued to build upon that to ensure all of those vehicles are available through winter," he added. |
| Linda Morris said her husband had to wait three hours for an ambulance after a fall | Linda Morris said her husband had to wait three hours for an ambulance after a fall |
| Linda Morris, 75, said there was still room for improvement across the board. | Linda Morris, 75, said there was still room for improvement across the board. |
| She said her 87-year-old husband had to “crawl home” after over three hours lying on the ground after a fall in Leigh – an incident that would not have been logged as a Category 2 by NWAS. | She said her 87-year-old husband had to “crawl home” after over three hours lying on the ground after a fall in Leigh – an incident that would not have been logged as a Category 2 by NWAS. |
| Mrs Morris said: "He shouldn’t have had to wait on the floor. It was an emergency, and it was very cold." | Mrs Morris said: "He shouldn’t have had to wait on the floor. It was an emergency, and it was very cold." |
| The response target for Category 3 incidents, which are urgent problems that need a transfer for specialist treatment, such as abdominal problems and diabetes complications, is for 90% of calls to be answered within 120 minutes. | The response target for Category 3 incidents, which are urgent problems that need a transfer for specialist treatment, such as abdominal problems and diabetes complications, is for 90% of calls to be answered within 120 minutes. |
| Category 4 calls, which are non-urgent and can include falls and back problems, have a 90% target of 180 minutes. | Category 4 calls, which are non-urgent and can include falls and back problems, have a 90% target of 180 minutes. |