Almost one in four avoid calling an ambulance 'due to long waits'

Nearly a quarter of UK residents have avoided calling an ambulance due to fears of lengthy arrival times, according to a recent survey. Health chiefs are calling for "adequate, long-term investment" in ambulance services, highlighting that "stretched teams face an uphill battle as demand keeps outstripping available resources and staff".

The survey, carried out by the Liberal Democrats and involving 2,028 participants, found that 23% had opted not to call an ambulance for A&E in the past two years over concerns about delays. Of these individuals, 57% either drove themselves or were driven by relatives to hospital, 25% took a taxi, and 18% walked.

Additionally, 16% used public transport, while 17% remained at home because they couldn't travel. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: "The last Conservative government’s incompetence and neglect has driven the NHS to breaking point."

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He added: "The situation is now so bad that patients are worried that when they call 999 or their local GP, they won’t receive the care they so desperately need."

Mr Davey also criticised the government's handling of recurring NHS crises, saying: "Winter after winter the NHS has faced the same crises and the Conservatives never did more than paper over the cracks."

Last month's figures from NHS England showed that the average response time for ambulances attending the most urgent cases – life-threatening illnesses or injuries – was eight minutes and three seconds in August.

The average response time for ambulances to reach critically urgent calls such as heart attacks, strokes and sepsis dipped in August to 27 minutes and 25 seconds, a notable improvement from 33 minutes and 25 seconds recorded in July. This figure still surpasses the target standard response time of seven minutes.

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, has strongly advised anyone in an emergency situation to dial 999 immediately. He said: "In England, demand – a third higher than before the pandemic – for the most serious ambulance calls has gone through the roof but trusts and staff continue to work flat out to see patients as quickly as possible.

"Latest figures show improved ambulance response times. Recent months have been some of the busiest ever for callouts."

Additionally, he remarked on the challenge faced by ambulance services due to spiking demand. He continued: "Despite their best efforts stretched teams face an uphill battle as demand keeps outstripping available resources and staff. Adequate long-term investment in ambulance services is needed alongside sustained efforts to recruit, train and retain staff."

The demand contrasts sharply with citizens' concerns, as nearly half (49%) of the 2,000 individuals surveyed expressed worry over potentially facing 12-hour waits in A&E during the winter season, while the same percentage feared inability to access treatment on the NHS owing to extensive waiting lists.

The number of patients waiting over 12 hours in A&E departments in England dropped to 28,494 in August, decreasing from 36,806 in July and marking the lowest figure for 12 months. In a significant improvement, NHS England hit its new four-hour A&E wait time target for the first time since introduction, with 76.3% of patients being admitted, transferred, or discharged within this timeframe.

Mr Davey said: "The crisis in the NHS must be tackled head on without delay. From crumbling hospitals to sky-high waiting lists, the new Government must make fixing the health service their top priority. Patients will pay the price if they fail."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We inherited a broken NHS and it is appalling that some patients fear they cannot rely on our ambulance services. It is our mission to get the health service back on its feet, including by supporting the NHS to improve ambulance response times.

"Through our 10-year plan for health, we will build an NHS fit for the future that is there for people when and where they need it.”