A NEW report shows West Midlands Ambulance Service is the most efficient in the country.
The remarkable success was achieved by being the only ambulance service in the country with a paramedic on every vehicle; having the most modern fleet with all vehicles standardised and none over five years old; and by using some of the most technologically advanced equipment. Together it means the Trust is able to discharge more patients at the scene than any other service, which brings real benefits to patients and hospitals as fewer patients are taken to A&E.
The report by Lord Carter of Coles examined the differences between ambulance services in England.
West Midlands Ambulance Service chief executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “We welcome the report as it recognises the extraordinary lengths ambulance service staff go to, to help patients but also backs up many of the decisions this Trust has taken over several years.
“Despite being one of the worst funded ambulance services in the country, our unique operating model means we are the only Trust in the country to consistently surpass all of the response targets.
“We have invested heavily in our staff with update training every year.
“This helps us to achieve the second lowest conveyance rate in the country: only about half of patients are taken to hospital but we are confident that we can reduce that still further.
“We have invested heavily in technology which is recognised nationally and internationally as a Global Digital Exemplar.
“We have one of the most technologically advanced control centres and over the last few years have rolled out our electronic patient record (EPR) to every vehicle.
“Lord Carter recognises the huge cost and frustration experienced by ambulance services dealing with the unacceptable hospital handover delays.
“It put a huge extra pressure on my staff, provides poor care for patients and means some patients wait far longer than they should have to, before they receive hospital care.
“We were delighted to have a visit from Lord Carter earlier this year to see the progress we have made over the last five years. It was clear how impressed he was with what we do here in the West Midlands.”
