14 December 2007
The government might be putting lives at risk by encouraging the use of one-person ambulance cars to meet targets, unions and doctors have warned.
From April 2008, NHS ambulance trusts must ensure that paramedics reach 75% of all serious emergencies within eight minutes.
To meet the target, trusts say they have been forced to increase the number of one-person ambulances or 'solo responders' instead of traditional vehicles crewed by two paramedics. The head of Unison's ambulance division, Sam Oestreicher, warned: 'You may get solo responders sent when an ambulance crew would be best.'
The president of the British Emergency Medical Association, Martin Shalley, said he was also concerned: 'Sometimes patients are so seriously hurt you need more than just one person there immediately'.
However, Tony Dell, the chair of the NHS Confederation's ambulance forum, welcomed the move. 'It is going to be beneficial to patients. They are not going to see any diminishing in skills and the responses will be faster.'
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