A&E at breaking point in SW says union

The whole of the Accident and Emergency structures are at breaking point due the changes this government has already made the GMB union has claimed.

GMB, the union for ambulance staff, responded to reports that Ambulance dispatchers will have two minutes longer to decide whether to send an ambulance to many potentially life-threatening 999 calls under pilot schemes in London and the South West.

Tony Hughes, GMB regional officer for Ambulance service in London and East of England, said "These pilots in London and the South West are ridiculous. They will only serve to bring worse outcomes for patients. The run up to the general election is clearly a factor so that the Tories can show that Ambulance Services are meeting their targets. This is so far from the truth.

"We will see people die more often that we see at the moment from conditions that can be treated if the right resource is got to them in good time.

"The whole of the Accident and Emergency structures are at breaking point due the changes this government has already made.

"There are a number of issues why there are slow responses in the service such as no beds at hospitals, the new Clinical Commissioning Groups funding fewer opportunities to access other medical assistance, the closing of A&E departments and walk in centres and the new 111 service. All these issues have led to Accident and Emergency Services to be at breaking point."