As the NHS marks its 75th year, the urgent and emergency care services it provides have never been in a bigger crisis. Against the backdrop of 10.6 million 999 calls answered in 2022-22, which is 2.6 million more than in 2020-21, media reports have consistently highlighted severe ambulance delays. Patients’ safety is being compromised. Some people have died as a result.
Among ambulance staff, morale is at an all-time low. Sickness and absence rates are the highest – and show the highest rate of increase – of all NHS organisations.
Earlier attempts to remedy this situation have largely involved money being thrown at the service, as a short-term, “sticking plaster” approach, that fails to address the key issues. I have been studying ambulance services for more than 15 years. My research identifies seven problems the emergency services are facing – and how to fix them.
