The chief of the South East Coast Ambulance service authorised a secret policy to improve performance figures, a leaked report shows.
In November 2015, we reported on an NHS scandal in which 111 calls were automatically downgraded, even if they had been initially assessed by the call-handler as ‘life-threatening’ – meaning they needed an ambulance within eight minutes.
A paramedic from the South East Coast Ambulance service would then phone back and assess the call again, delaying the treatment of around 20,000 patients.
However, these delays did not show up on the Trust’s performance records because the clock started from the time of the second call – thereby giving paramedics an extra 10 minutes to reach the scene.
“Deplorable”
Now details of another secret policy used by South East Coast Ambulance have been leaked, in which 999 calls were recorded as receiving a swift response, even if they did not.
It is alleged that more than 5,000 calls were retrospectively assessed and recorded as receiving an eight minute response, just because the patient had been within 200 metres of a defibrillator.
A web mapping tool was used to verify whether or not the patient had been near a defibrillator, even if the patient was not treated with the piece of medical equipment.
The document into the secret policy describes how the practice continued for nearly two years, having been agreed by Trust executives in March 2014.
The protocol, which made it appear as though the service was meeting national targets, was directly authorised by the head of the Trust, Paul Sutton.
Campaigners have called for Mr Sutton to step down from his position.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said the actions of Mr Sutton and the Trust’s executives were “deplorable”.
Unacceptable delays in treatment
If you or your loved one has faced unacceptable delays in medical treatment, please get in touch with our team of solicitors to discuss a potential compensation claim.
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