Emergency performance dips as winter nears
Ambulance response times rose dramatically last month with urgent care performance also worsening as winter appeared to strike early.
NHSE admits ‘urgent’ ambulance target will be missed in capital
NHS England has agreed ambulance trusts can meet ‘realistic’ response times for ‘urgent’ ambulance calls including some heart attacks and stroke this winter, citing ‘service pressures, resources and demand’.
Prominent trust chief leaves for overseas role
One of the UK’s most prominent ambulance leaders is leaving his role for a job abroad.
Exclusive: Trusts forced to dismiss overseas staff shortly after hiring them
Two NHS trusts have been forced to dismiss multiple staff from a cohort recruited from overseas, leading to a row over assurance of their qualifications, HSJ can reveal.
Five trusts join forces on AI and procurement
Five ambulance service trusts are forming a group, which will include joint projects on artificial intelligence, and a potential move to standardisation and joint procurement of vehicles.
North by North West: Same culprits on handover delays
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Interview: The story behind Cumbria’s next-generation smart ambulance service
Matt Dugdale, head of digital and clinical innovation at North West Ambulance Service Trust, shares how the trust is using technology to improve ambulance services
Outside CEOs bring ‘positive challenge’ to sector, says review author
The senior leader who carried out a cultural review of the ambulance sector has said bringing in chief executives from outside has “shone a different light” on the service, although she stressed it was not a “silver bullet”.
Waiting times focus ‘overshadows misconduct’, finds NHSE review
Ambulance trusts have often prioritised capacity and response times over dealing with cases of misconduct, a review of culture in the sector for NHS England has found.
Tory leadership candidate appointed health minister
Two new ministers have been appointed to the Department of Health and Social Care in Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle.
A&E handover delays up by a fifth, leak reveals
Hours lost to ambulance handover delays shot up by nearly a quarter last month amid growing fears about the pressure on ambulance services going into winter, according to figures seen by HSJ.
Trust needs £20m to deliver asks from Manchester bomb inquiry
Ambulance trusts are lobbying for tens of millions in additional funding to meet key targets set by the Manchester Arena bombing inquiry.
Teaching trust appoints joint chair after two failed attempts
A teaching trust in Lancashire has appointed a new chair at the third attempt.
HSJ Digital Awards 2023: Enhancing Workforce Engagement, Productivity and Wellbeing Through Digital
WINNER: North West Ambulance Service Trust: Building a Smart, Connected Ambulance Service
‘Significant escalation’ in strike action, warns ambulance chief
Ambulance chiefs have warned of a ‘significant escalation’ in the strike action being planned by unions next week – saying the flexibilities that helped deal with previous walk-outs will no longer be available.
Striking staff drop cover for strokes and suspected heart attacks
Striking ambulance workers in two regions have said for the first time that they will only answer immediately life-threatening calls — abandoning previous agreements to cover some Category 2 incidents.
North by North West: Flory tasked with getting a grip
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Free coffee for delayed ambulance crews paused after £20k bill
Trust chiefs have paused a scheme which enabled ambulance crews facing long accident and emergency handover delays to get a free tea or coffee, after receiving a £20,000 bill for a single month.
Staff at final ambulance trust vote to join strikes
Staff at the East of England ambulance trust – the only one to escape strike action so far – have voted to join the industrial action.