19 September 2003
A third of ambulance trusts manipulated response time data to try to meet a government target, according to the NHS watchdog.
A Commission for Health Improvement report published this week found that pressure to arrive at 75% of life-threatening 999 calls within eight minutes had contributed to significant improvements in performance.
But in one third of the trusts inspected, the commission found there had been some slight alteration of response times, improving recorded performance by between 2% and 6%.
Chi cited loose guidelines,
poor understanding of software, over-simplistic targets and fear of failure as reasons behind the inaccurate reporting.
Jocelyn Cornwell, Chi acting
chief executive, said: 'The most common reason for the alteration seems to have been cultures where staff have felt under pressure to give the right answer or where loyalty and pride in their organisation becomes misplaced zeal as staff want their trusts to be seen to be doing well.'
PFsep2003
