Trusts cut use of private ambulances despite performance woes
Two ambulance trusts with some of the worst performance on a key response time target are reducing the use of private ambulance firms.
ICBs halt £465m tender after legal challenge
A group of integrated care boards have halted a procurement worth up to £465m, with little more than a month’s notice, after receiving legal challenges regarding its process.
Ambulance services underprepared for ‘mass casualty incidents’
Ambulance services would still struggle to respond effectively to a mass-casualty event like the Manchester Arena bombing, HSJ has learned, as nearly all have been denied the funding needed to bolster preparedness.
Trust appoints sector’s only minority ethnic CEO
A longstanding executive has been appointed to lead an ambulance service, making him the sector’s only chief executive with a minority ethnic background.
Emergency performance dips as winter nears
Ambulance response times rose dramatically last month with urgent care performance also worsening as winter appeared to strike early.
NHSE admits ‘urgent’ ambulance target will be missed in capital
NHS England has agreed ambulance trusts can meet ‘realistic’ response times for ‘urgent’ ambulance calls including some heart attacks and stroke this winter, citing ‘service pressures, resources and demand’.
Prominent trust chief leaves for overseas role
One of the UK’s most prominent ambulance leaders is leaving his role for a job abroad.
Exclusive: Trusts forced to dismiss overseas staff shortly after hiring them
Two NHS trusts have been forced to dismiss multiple staff from a cohort recruited from overseas, leading to a row over assurance of their qualifications, HSJ can reveal.
Five trusts join forces on AI and procurement
Five ambulance service trusts are forming a group, which will include joint projects on artificial intelligence, and a potential move to standardisation and joint procurement of vehicles.
North by North West: Same culprits on handover delays
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Interview: The story behind Cumbria’s next-generation smart ambulance service
Matt Dugdale, head of digital and clinical innovation at North West Ambulance Service Trust, shares how the trust is using technology to improve ambulance services
Outside CEOs bring ‘positive challenge’ to sector, says review author
The senior leader who carried out a cultural review of the ambulance sector has said bringing in chief executives from outside has “shone a different light” on the service, although she stressed it was not a “silver bullet”.
Waiting times focus ‘overshadows misconduct’, finds NHSE review
Ambulance trusts have often prioritised capacity and response times over dealing with cases of misconduct, a review of culture in the sector for NHS England has found.
Tory leadership candidate appointed health minister
Two new ministers have been appointed to the Department of Health and Social Care in Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle.
A&E handover delays up by a fifth, leak reveals
Hours lost to ambulance handover delays shot up by nearly a quarter last month amid growing fears about the pressure on ambulance services going into winter, according to figures seen by HSJ.
Trust needs £20m to deliver asks from Manchester bomb inquiry
Ambulance trusts are lobbying for tens of millions in additional funding to meet key targets set by the Manchester Arena bombing inquiry.
Teaching trust appoints joint chair after two failed attempts
A teaching trust in Lancashire has appointed a new chair at the third attempt.
HSJ Digital Awards 2023: Enhancing Workforce Engagement, Productivity and Wellbeing Through Digital
WINNER: North West Ambulance Service Trust: Building a Smart, Connected Ambulance Service
‘Significant escalation’ in strike action, warns ambulance chief
Ambulance chiefs have warned of a ‘significant escalation’ in the strike action being planned by unions next week – saying the flexibilities that helped deal with previous walk-outs will no longer be available.