NHS England's New Drop and Go Ambulance Policy in London
- NHS England has proposed a new system for ambulance services to enhance emergency response times.
- The plan involves leaving patients in hospital corridors after 45 minutes to expedite response to 999 calls.
- This approach has raised safety concerns among A&E doctors regarding patient handover and assessment.
In the UK, NHS England has mandated that ambulance services adopt a 'drop and go' system, previously implemented in London, to improve response times for emergency calls, particularly for critical conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. This directive comes as health services prepare for a challenging winter, anticipating increased demand and potential delays in treatment. The plan requires ambulances to leave patients in hospital corridors after a maximum of 45 minutes, sparking controversy and debate among healthcare professionals. While ambulance leaders argue this approach prioritizes rapid response for life-threatening emergencies, many accident and emergency doctors express concerns regarding patient safety, as it may involve insufficient handover and inadequate assessment of patients before they are left in the care of hospital staff. This tension highlights the ongoing struggle between ensuring prompt emergency care and maintaining quality patient support in already overburdened A&E departments.