Consequences of downgrading 999 calls
Dear East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust,
Now it appears that your Trust seems to be finally admitting it took the decision to unilaterally downgrade certain types of 999 calls, I would like to know if anyone suffered real harm as a result of that decision which was taken by those as yet unidentified.
Can you tell me from the date that decision was taken -
Of the categories of calls downgraded from an R2, how many patients then went on to have a respiratory and or cardiac arrest? Also break that down into the category of call e.g. choking etc
I also wish to know that since the Trust has been able to downgrade other R2 calls not included in the above, how many of those resulted in patients then having a respiratory or cardiac arrest.
Lives are potentially at risk here and I hope you don't choose to waste more time and potentially cause more harm, particularly in light of your refusal to publish the report without any further delay
Yours faithfully,
J Lowe
Dear J Lowe
Thank you for your email dated 30th June 2014 where you requested information regarding the East of England Ambulance Service.
Your request has been allocated the following reference: F18227
As per our response to your request F17988, the Trust will not be releasing information contained within the report here as this is due to be published this month. As a result we are applying s.22 of the Freedom of Information Act to this request.
However, I can confirm that the report will cover any potential or actual harm caused, as well as how many were red calls and which category.
As the codings were all re-set to their original grading as soon as this incident was discovered (22nd February 2014), no further harm is being caused by the time it is taking for the Serious Incident report to be completed.
The Trust is continuing to work closely with the Commissioners on this report, and as stated above our aim is to publish the report later this month.
I am obliged to advise you that if you are dissatisfied with the Trust’s response to your request you have a right to complain to the Trust and should set out your concerns to the Freedom of Information Officer, EEAST, Hospital Approach, Broomfield, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 7WS or by email to [East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust request email]. If you remain dissatisfied following this, you have a right under Section 50 of the FOIA to seek a determination from the Information Commissioner on whether the Act has been properly applied by the Trust. For more information, please see www.ico.gov.uk.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.
Kind regards
FoI Officer
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Dear East of England Ambulance Service
Kindly note that I still require the information listed above particularly if the requested statistics aren't included in the report.
As you now seem to be admitting that actual harm might have occurred to some patients, hopefully those responsible will be named and action taken against them and anyone else who knowingly allowed this to happen. That is unless they've been shipped out abroad or allowed to leave quietly etc.
Yours sincerely,
J Lowe
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