999 crews put patients at risk taking them to the WRONG hospital
STROKE patients in Notts are being put at risk because ambulance crews are taking them to the wrong hospital.
When a person suffers a stroke, it is crucial that treatment is administered quickly to avoid long-term damage.
But paramedics working for East Midlands Ambulance Service are taking victims to the QMC, instead of a specialist stroke unit at the City Hospital.
A life-saving injection to treat stroke can only be administered at the City Hospital.
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It must be given within four hours of the initial symptoms. Taking patients who need this drug to the wrong hospital could cost vital minutes.
Ossie Newell, a stroke survivor and ambassador for stoke rehabilitation research at the University of Nottingham, said this delay would prove critical.
"Taking them to the wrong place is undermining their prospects of a good recovery," he said.
Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, which runs both hospitals, is looking into the issue. It says that, in one month, 20 stroke patients were incorrectly taken to the QMC.
A spokesman for East Midlands Ambulance Service admitted that its paramedics "may incorrectly take patients to the emergency department" and said it was introducing more "clinical education" for some paramedics.
"We monitor such instances and, where more education is needed, we provide this through an action plan with the member of staff," he said.
"Stroke patients are occasionally taken to the Emergency Department at the QMC if, for example, they do not meet the criteria or have a level of consciousness that may be too low to be managed safely in the stroke unit. In such cases, the stroke unit follow up on the patient and a transfer is arranged once their condition has been fully assessed."
Simon Evans, general manager for acute service at Nottingham University Hospitals, said: "We are working with East Midlands Ambulance Service to ensure patients are brought to the right hospital at the right time."
Have you, or one of your relatives, been affected by this story? Join the online debate at www.thisisnottingham.co.uk
26 Comments
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by EMASComms
Thursday, March 21 2013, 6:27PM
“EMAS hasn't denied it's performance standards need to improve - that's why we launched our Being the Best proposals.
However, speed of response to 999s isn't the only thing we're measured on - clinical outcomes are also important. You can read more about our performance here:
http://tinyurl.com/bw4mjtz
EMAS operates an open and honest approach to communications and so it's disappointing to hear claims to the contrary.
It would be helpful if examples of us using 'spin' could be provided to us so we have evidence of a need to re-assess our approach. When giving examples, please quote the reference number of any press releases which contain factually incorrect information. We will then investigate.”
by ShockG
Thursday, March 21 2013, 5:30PM
“"Just for the record I am disinterested in whether other posters want to "red arrow" my factual comments - it is irrelevant and childish."
Hmm, me thinks you doth protest too much...
How can you be disinterested if you feel the need to post to the contrary?
Discuss.”
by irvine
Thursday, March 21 2013, 5:28PM
“Mm, I thought that the EMAS spin doctors might be a little reticent about responding to my post!”
by irvine
Thursday, March 21 2013, 2:19PM
“Just for the record I am disinterested in whether other posters want to "red arrow" my factual comments - it is irrelevant and childish.
Anyway, just to correct my last post, EMAS is not one of the poorest performing trusts in the country. It is the poorest performing trust in the country.”
by irvine
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:48PM
“EMAS Comms
Is it not the case that EMAS remains one of the poorest performing Ambuance Trusts in the entire country? I have seen and read far more "spin" from EMAS than I have in the NEP.”
by EMASComms
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:33PM
“The offer to spend time in our Control Room and on a frontline A&E vehicle was made to Dominic on 13 March (before this story broke). The offer is still open.
Representatives from other media outlets in our area have been out 'on the road' and, without exception, this has opened their eyes to the challenges we face 24/7.
Many members of frontline staff have expressed serious concerns about this article and its impact on public confidence.”
by EMASComms
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:32PM
“The offer to spend time in our Control Room and on a frontline A&E vehicle was made to Dominic on 13 March (before this story broke). The offer is still open.
Representatives from other media outlets in our area have been out 'on the road' and, without exception, this has opened their eyes to the challenges we face 24/7.
Many members of frontline staff have expressed their concerns about this article and its impact on public confidence.”
by BLawrenson
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 2:41PM
“Dominic, as an investigative journalist didn't you ask why it was not possible for the highly trained teams at A & E to deliver a thrombolysis injection just as effectively as a member of staff at the Stroke Unit ? I would also suggest you have a sharp word with the News Editor if he is putting your by-line on a severely edited version of what you actually wrote. The e-version of the story is thus very unbalanced and I would consider it unfair to the ambulance crews to expect them to be able to arrive at the conclusive diagnosis expected of a highly trained trauma doctor. Perhaps it would be a good idea to see if you could accompany a crew and see the difficulties they face.”
by ShockG
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 10:13AM
“'Unfortunately I am not responsible for the version of the story that appears online.'
To be fair to you I thought this might to be case, however it has your name on it. I'd be pretty upset if I'd been stitched by an some over-zealous editor.
Do you think you could also clarify for me, are the paramedics taking diagnosed stroke victims to the wrong department, or are they taking them to the nearest ED for diagnosis? The difference between the two is massive, and I'm getting slightly bogged down with the statement.”
by DomHowell
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 9:55AM
“Here is a link to the Nottingham University Hospital Trust board papers: https://http://tinyurl.com/c7xa7q9
If you read the papers for Feb 27 and then scroll down to page 8 you will see that the hospital is missing its target for the majority of its stroke patients spending 90% of their time on a dedicated stroke unit. For January only 67 % of patients were spending that amount of time on such a unit. One of the reasons cited in the board papers is: "EMAS were not following the correct stroke direct protocol – showing an increase in stroke FAST patients in ED who needed transfer to City Hospital..."
Under 'what action has been taken to correct this' it says:
"Met with EMAS to re-launch the FAST Direct admissions pathway is being set up.
"Provided EMAS with a SOP which will remind staff of the agreed pathway for possible Thrombolysis patients." - this second point is important, because for stroke patients who have a clot on the brain having a thrombolysis injection can remove the clot and thus save the person's life and certainly aid their recovery. This injection can only be given at the City Hospital.
Unfortunately I am not responsible for the version of the story that appears online.”