GPs are being forced to drive people to A&E themselves after being told by 999 to call back only when the “patient stopped breathing”.
A shocking video shows how GPs at Wilmslow Health Centre had to bring a “deteriorating” elderly man to hospital to “save” his life after waiting hours for an ambulance.
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Doctors at the Cheshire practice had waited three hours for the emergency vehicle to turn up, which was expected to take 30 minutes.
The medics said they had driven at least two other patients to A&E before when ambulance control staff said a vehicle would not be free until the “patient stopped breathing”.
Dr Amar Ahmed, the GP partner at the practice, told the Sun he had previously rushed an elderly lady to the hospital while waiting for an ambulance after the surgery oxygen supplies “ran out”.
Another time, the local vicar claimed to have stepped up and took a patient to hospital on behalf of the practice when the ambulance failed to turn up fast enough.
The Royal College of GPs (RCGPs) said practices are not “equipped” to treat patients needing emergency medical care and that it “shouldn’t have to be this way”.
It’s completely scandalous”
Dr Amar Ahmed
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said staff were doing their best to help people “as quickly as possible” amid a “significant spike” in demand.
It comes as flu season is reaching its peak in the UK, with hospitals working “flat out and full to the brim”, a health leader previously warned.
Dr Ahmed said the doctors filmed their act of desperation and shared it on social media to highlight how the NHS system was “imploading”.
“It’s completely scandalous; we should all be shouting about it from the rooftops because who knows when one of us will need an ambulance next,” he added.
In a clip filmed outside the Macclesfield Hospital, he said: “We’ve just dropped this gentleman off, and this gentleman’s condition was rapidly deteriorating.
“He waited three hours; he was deteriorating, and we had to make that difficult decision to bring him in to save him.
“We’ve been calling ambulances. They don’t turn up. Or they say, ‘call us when the patient’s stopped breathing’ – I kid you not.
“And it’s happening year after year after year. It’s only deteriorating.”
But he said this is “not the ambulance service’s fault” but rather a sign that “every bit of the NHS is imploding”.
“Look, the system is totally broken, politicians of both sides need to wake up and do something about it because people are dying,” he added.
Significant spike in demand
A NWAS spokesperson said: “We are sorry that we haven’t been able to get to the gentleman as quickly as we would have liked.
“The NHS is experiencing a significant spike in demand, leading to delays for some patients, but our staff are trying their best to get those who need us as quickly as possible.
“We continue to work closely with our hospital partners to speed up the handover of patients and allow crews to respond to others who need help in the community.
“We are thankful for the actions of Dr Ahmed, Dr Saunders and their colleagues, and we hope the patient makes a full and swift recovery.”
Professor Kamila Hawthorne of the RCGPs said: “Whilst GP surgeries are clinical settings, staffed by highly trained clinicians, practices may not be equipped with the equipment, or appropriate medications, needed in an emergency situation.
“In these circumstances, practices will call an ambulance to take the patient to hospital, where they can get the care they need.
“Ambulance services, like general practice and other parts of the NHS, are working under considerable pressure.
“This incident, whilst we don’t know the full details, highlights how the repercussions of unsustainable pressure on one area of the health service are felt in another – and this must be addressed.
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“GPs want to do the very best for their patients. It sounds very much like the GP in this incident went above and beyond with his actions, but it shouldn’t have to be this way.”
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When to call 999
You should call 999 in a life-threatening emergency only.
For adults, this includes:
- signs of a heart attack
chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest - signs of a stroke
face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking - sudden confusion (delirium)
cannot be sure of own name or age - suicide attempt
by taking something or self-harming - severe difficulty breathing
not being able to get words out, choking or gasping - choking
on liquids or solids right now - heavy bleeding
spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle - severe injuries
after a serious accident or assault - seizure (fit)
shaking or jerking because of a fit, or unconscious (cannot be woken up) - sudden, rapid swelling
of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue
For children, this includes:
- seizure (fit)
shaking or jerking because of a fit, or unconscious (cannot be woken up) - choking
on liquids or solids right now - difficulty breathing
making grunting noises or sucking their stomach in under their ribcage - unable to stay awake
cannot keep their eyes open for more than a few seconds - blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, tongue or lips
on brown or black skin, grey or blue palms or soles of the feet - limp and floppy
their head falls to the side, backwards or forwards - heavy bleeding
spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle - severe injuries
after a serious accident or assault - signs of a stroke
face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking - sudden rapid swelling
of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue - sudden confusion
agitation, odd behaviour or non-stop crying
Source: NHS