NHS crisis as heart attack victims told to ‘make your own way to hospital’ | United Kingdom | News
In some parts of the UK, heart attack patients are being asked if they can go to hospital after dialing 999, according to a report.
A leaked memo from the West Midlands Ambulance Service details changes to a script used by 999 call handlers. They must now ask patients if they can go to hospital without an ambulance.
The memo, seen by Sunday time and sent on November 29, it reportedly said that during times of high demand, people with urgent abdominal pain or those who have fallen or are vomiting in categories three and four, calls to 999 will be informed that the ambulance service is under “significant pressure”.
They will also be asked: “[W]We do not have an ambulance available to respond to you. It may take several hours before a copy is available. Is there a way to get to a hospital emergency room on your own? »
According to the same publication, the memo also states that when the ambulance service is under the greatest pressure, the same request will be made for category two 999 calls.
These are patients who could suffer a stroke, heart attack or severe burns. These people should generally be seen within 18 minutes.
The report comes as record numbers of people occupy hospital beds at this time of year due to a variety of illnesses and injuries. NHS hospital beds are about 95% full.
“Skyrocketing” flu cases, coupled with rising levels of norovirus and other winter viruses, are already putting additional pressure on the NHS, health officials have said.
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the situation was “concerning”, adding: “We are heading into winter with a 350% increase in flu cases in hospitals and an 86% increase in cases of norovirus compared to the same month last year and that is to say with an average of more than 95,000 hospital beds occupied each day, more at this stage than in any other year. »
Health officials have already warned hospitals that they are faced with a “quademia” of illnesswith increasing levels of influenza, COVID-19, norovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Meanwhile, the Health Secretary West Street has asked hospital leaders to put “patients ahead of goals” as they prepare for the busy winter months.
The Department of Health and Social Care said Mr Streeting had stressed to NHS bosses that “he did not want to see trusts prioritize patients who can be seen and released more quickly over those who have the greatest clinical need.
Ms Pritchard said NHS staff had worked hard to prepare for winter, but the service knew more strain was to come. She added: “As always, the public has an important role to play in helping NHS staff over the winter, by calling 999 and using A&E in emergencies only, while using NHS 111 to access appropriate support for urgent health needs.”
People eligible for a free flu vaccine or spray have been urged to take advantage of the offer as soon as possible to help ease the pressures facing the NHS this winter.
According to figures from the NHS in England, the number of people hospitalized with flu has quadrupled compared to last year. On average, 1,099 flu patients were hospitalized each day in the week before December 1, including 39 in intensive care.
Currently, flu cases are highest among people aged five to 14, and health officials warn that this could lead to a surge of adult cases “later down the line.”
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said: “Cases of flu are soaring, so now is the time for older people and children to get vaccinated and protect themselves before the family reunions they planned over the holiday season. .
“Every Christmas we see far too many elderly people and children admitted to hospital with the flu, and the best way to avoid this situation is to get your flu vaccine if you are eligible.”
