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02/07/2004
Green light for ambulances on speeding fine problem
Ambulance drivers will no longer be issued with speeding fines when en-route to emergency 999 calls, Health Minister Rosie Winterton announced today.
The Ambulance Service Association (ASA) estimates that it costs some Ambulance Trusts up to £1million a year to deal with the paperwork involved in proving that vehicles are responding to emergencies.
It is hoped that the new protocol will help reduce bureaucracy and free up staff to deal with more pressing issues of patient care.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have already issued a letter to all police forces explaining the new protocol. It states that a fixed penalty notice can only be sent out to the offending trust, if, on inspection of the photograph, blue lights cannot be seen flashing.
Speaking at the Ambex Conference, Harrogate, the Health Minister said: "In future, fixed penalty tickets for speed and red light offences will not be sent to ambulance trusts if blue emergency lights can be seen in use on the vehicle in the photograph. This will substantially reduce the bureaucracy ambulance staff have to endure by processing speeding tickets.
"Over the last year 75.7 % of category A calls resulted in a response arriving within eight minutes. This means ambulances are reaching more patients with life-threatening conditions faster than ever before - 50,000 more in 2003-04 than the previous year.
"Today's announcement will help ensure that ambulance staff are supported in delivering first class services for patients."
Richard Diment, Chief Executive of the Ambulance Service Association, welcomed the move, saying he was delighted "that this bureaucratic nightmare has been resolved".
"It will save the NHS a lot more time and money, freeing up ambulance trust resources," he added.
(MB)
The Ambulance Service Association (ASA) estimates that it costs some Ambulance Trusts up to £1million a year to deal with the paperwork involved in proving that vehicles are responding to emergencies.
It is hoped that the new protocol will help reduce bureaucracy and free up staff to deal with more pressing issues of patient care.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have already issued a letter to all police forces explaining the new protocol. It states that a fixed penalty notice can only be sent out to the offending trust, if, on inspection of the photograph, blue lights cannot be seen flashing.
Speaking at the Ambex Conference, Harrogate, the Health Minister said: "In future, fixed penalty tickets for speed and red light offences will not be sent to ambulance trusts if blue emergency lights can be seen in use on the vehicle in the photograph. This will substantially reduce the bureaucracy ambulance staff have to endure by processing speeding tickets.
"Over the last year 75.7 % of category A calls resulted in a response arriving within eight minutes. This means ambulances are reaching more patients with life-threatening conditions faster than ever before - 50,000 more in 2003-04 than the previous year.
"Today's announcement will help ensure that ambulance staff are supported in delivering first class services for patients."
Richard Diment, Chief Executive of the Ambulance Service Association, welcomed the move, saying he was delighted "that this bureaucratic nightmare has been resolved".
"It will save the NHS a lot more time and money, freeing up ambulance trust resources," he added.
(MB)
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19 August 2004
Ambulance call-outs to be tailored to patients' need
Patients with non-urgent conditions who dial 999 will not automatically be sent an ambulance, but may instead receive treatment at home or from other healthcare professionals, under changes announced today by Health Minister Rosie Winterton.
Ambulance call-outs to be tailored to patients' need
Patients with non-urgent conditions who dial 999 will not automatically be sent an ambulance, but may instead receive treatment at home or from other healthcare professionals, under changes announced today by Health Minister Rosie Winterton.
26 November 2007
'Dirty Ambulances' May Spread MRSA
Ambulances may be aiding the spread of hospital-based infections such as MRSA because they are not being cleaned properly, a union has claimed. The investigation by Unison found wide variations in cleaning practices at ambulance trusts across the UK and said that poor cleaning arrangements and a lack of resources were contributing to the problem.
'Dirty Ambulances' May Spread MRSA
Ambulances may be aiding the spread of hospital-based infections such as MRSA because they are not being cleaned properly, a union has claimed. The investigation by Unison found wide variations in cleaning practices at ambulance trusts across the UK and said that poor cleaning arrangements and a lack of resources were contributing to the problem.
03 July 2006
Government announces investment in ambulances
NHS ambulance trusts in England have been given a £25 million boost in order to help improve response times for the most urgent calls.
Government announces investment in ambulances
NHS ambulance trusts in England have been given a £25 million boost in order to help improve response times for the most urgent calls.
04 January 2005
Five further health trusts make foundation grade
Following approval by the independent regulatory body, five Trusts have been granted Foundation Trust status.
Five further health trusts make foundation grade
Following approval by the independent regulatory body, five Trusts have been granted Foundation Trust status.
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