Paramedics in England say patients are dying in the back of ambulances due to long delays outside overcrowded emergency departments, according to a new survey by Unison.
The union’s poll of nearly 600 ambulance workers highlights severe gridlock at some hospitals, where queues of up to 20 ambulances have been reported. In some instances, crews have waited over 12 hours to hand over patients.
More than three-quarters (77%) of paramedics said they’ve cared for patients in the back of ambulances over the past year, with some hospital staff providing treatment outside due to the lack of space — a practice dubbed “car park care.”
Two-thirds of respondents said they had waited with patients in corridors or non-clinical areas, often covering for colleagues so others could respond to urgent calls. Over 68% reported a decline in patient health during these delays, and 1 in 20 said someone had died in their care as a direct result.
Unison has warned that such conditions are becoming the new normal, placing both patient safety and staff wellbeing at risk.
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