Ambulance response times 'wrong'

Six of the 31 old ambulance trusts in England did not record response times data according to official guidance, a Department of Health audit has found.

The audit found that the mis-reporting took three forms: starting the clock later than the point defined by the Department of Health; incorrect data management; the clocks on different servers not being synchronised which meant that time taken to respond was not calculated correctly.

The trusts affected are the former West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Cumbria, West Midlands and West Country Ambulance Service NHS Trusts and the current Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

The Department of Health said that all trusts had now corrected their performance reporting arrangements and follow-up audits and will take place to check that they are now reporting correctly.

Commenting on the audit, Health Minister Lord Warner said: "These irregularities affected only a minority of trusts. Patient safety was not compromised and all trusts are now reporting correctly.

"However, the Department of Health takes misreporting of NHS performance data extremely seriously and is determined to ensure transparency and consistency in reporting. In the areas where there have been instances of reporting irregularities, we have asked those trusts to consider whether there is an organisational or individual case to answer, and if so to take appropriate steps, including any necessary disciplinary action.

"The ambulance service has performed well against a back-drop of a record number of calls.

"We are determined to secure further improvements. The reforms that we are implementing from last year's ambulance review will lead to better response times for emergency calls and will also see ambulances delivering a wider range of healthcare to patients."

(KMcA)