The cross-party House of Lords Public Services Committee has
today launched a short inquiry into the role of ambulance services
in supporting accident and emergency capacity.
The inquiry will consider the current demand for, and performance
of, ambulance services and emergency departments, the interfaces
between ambulance services and emergency departments, and how
ambulance services can be used to support emergency department
capacity and deliver better patient outcomes in England. The
inquiry follows on from previous work done by the Committee in
2022, highlighted in its Emergency healthcare: a national
emergency report. The report identified that the emergency
care system was under unprecedented strain in which patients
faced substantial delays in accessing emergency care, causing
distress and increasing clinical risk.
The Committee is expecting to take evidence from a range of
expert stakeholders on topics including:
- The interfaces between ambulance service and accident and
emergency capacity;
- How ambulance services can be used more effectively,
including alternative uses such as delivering treatment at home
and other holistic care;
- The impact of the urgent care plan on the reliance on
ambulances and emergency departments;
- Actions needed to make more effective use of ambulance
services;
- Impact of NHS governance on the effectiveness of the
ambulance service; and
- Response times and resource allocation.
The Committee expects to report on its findings in the next few
months.
, Chair of the Public Services
Committee said:
“Our emergency healthcare services are in crisis – that was
the conclusion reached when the Committee previously considered
issues across the healthcare sector that affected the quality of
care received by patients. These included the inability to access
primary and community care, which led to an overburdening of the
emergency services including A&E and ambulances.
“The current Government's urgent and emergency care plan
seeks to improve ambulance waiting and handover times, A&E
patient flows, and increase the delivery of urgent care in the
community. Through this inquiry, we will undertake focused
examination of current performance in these areas and how
ambulance services can support these objectives. Our aim is to
raise awareness of any obstacles to maximising the effectiveness
of ambulance services – and we will recommend government action
if needed.
“We look forward to hearing from experts and stakeholders in
a number of oral evidence sessions and also considering written
evidence provided before issuing our report.”
