Positive ambulance response times in Shropshire

Figures released by Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group show the county is performing better than the national proposed standards in three of the four categories, which includes category two emergency calls, category three urgent calls and category four less urgent calls.

But figures reveal it is not meeting the national target responding to category one calls from people with life-threatening illnesses or injuries.

Shropshire CCG has been "shadowing" a new set of performance targets for the ambulance service which will apply to all 999 calls for the first time later this year.

The bar will set at 90 per cent of calls to be reached in the target times rather than 75 per cent under the old system.

Figures for July show in Shropshire the average ambulance response times for category one calls was 19 minutes and 56 seconds, compared with 11 minutes and 47 seconds in West Midlands and a national target of 15 minutes.

They show the average ambulance response times for category two in Shropshire was 32 minutes and 14 seconds, compared with 19 minutes and 21 seconds in the West Midlands and a national target of 40 minutes nationally.

Average ambulance response times for category three in Shropshire was 46 minutes and 17 seconds, compared with 44 minutes and 57 seconds regionally and a national target of two hours.

Average ambulance response times for category four in Shropshire was 66 minutes and 27 seconds, compared with 95 minutes and 53 seconds regionally and a national target of three hours.

Andrea Harper, head of communications and engagement at Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "This new framework comes into force in October, but we are already shadow monitoring the data against this new framework.

"The new metric is more challenging as the target has increased from 75 per cent to 90 per cent and it covers all patients, not just those in immediate need.

"Under the new metric, there are now four categories and, for three out of the four categories, we are better than the national proposed standards."

Mark Docherty, director of nursing, quality and clinical commissioning at West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “In Shropshire the outcomes for patients are extremely good. Most calls have an ambulance sent to them rather than a car or a bike and almost every ambulance in Shropshire has a paramedic on board.

“Shropshire also has some of the fastest responses for lower categories – far better than other places in the country.

“It is a rural county so there is always going to be trouble with quick responses. The service is performing well in Shropshire and helping save lives with a good outcome.

“However, we are not complacent. If you need an ambulance in an emergency we will get it there as quick as humanly possible.”