Queens and KGH Temporary Closures

Got the letter below earlier today from London Ambulance Service. Seeking clarification about how many of blue light ambulances are involved but the evidence is clear that if KGH A&E and maternity closes lives will be put at risk. What London Ambulance call "redirects" I see as temporary closures to ambulances. Walk/Drive in cases are never turned away.                                                                                               

      

                                                                                                             Governance and Compliance   

                                                                                                               London Ambulance Service

                                                                                                                                                4^th Floor

Andy Walker                                                                                                            46 Loman Street                                                                               By email to: andy.walker@talk21.com                                                                                 Southwark

                                                                                                                                            London

                                                                                                                                         SE1 0EH

17^th July 2012                                                                                   

                                                                                                          email:foi@lond-amb.nhs.uk

Our Ref:1083

Your Ref:

Dear Mr Walker,

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

Further to your enquiry made under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which we received on 11^th July 2012, you requested the following information:

1) The number of ambulance diverts from King George and Queens Hospitals on a monthly basis from January 2012 through to June 2012.

2) The number of diverts for each hospital to be shown rather than a aggregate figure.

3) How long each divert lasted for.

4) How many ambulances were diverted at each occasion.

5) What types of patient were being diverted, ie all patients or only certain conditions.

Our response is as follows:

Queens Hospital Romford redirects
	ED		Maternity		HASU
	Occasions	Duration	Occasions	Duration	Occasions	Duration
Jan-12	11	14 hrs	2	over 8 hrs	0
Feb-12	15	24 hrs	3	over 24hrs	0
Mar-12	15	31 hrs	2	over 8 hrs	0
Apr-12	9	16.5 hrs	0		0
May-12	4	7 hrs	1	over 4 hrs	2	10 hrs
Jun-12	3	5.5 hrs	2	over 8 hrs	0

King Georges Hospital ilford redirects
	ED		Maternity
	Occasions	Duration	Occasions	Duration
Jan-12	0		0
Feb-12	1	1 hr	0
Mar-12	0		0
Apr-12	0		0
May-12	0		0
Jun-12	0		0

We do not keep information on the number of ambulances diverted on each occasion.

The attached Emergency Department Capacity Management and Closure Policy provides information on how patients are affected by redirections.

We hope that this answers your request. If you are dissatisfied with our response you have the right to seek a review in line with guidance from the Information Commissioner.

In the first instance, this should be addressed in writing to:

Carmel Dodson-Brown

Assistant Director Corporate Services

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

46 Loman Street

London SE1 0EH

who will provide a response within 20 Days of receiving the review request:

Should you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the review by the Assistant Director of Corporate Services then a final review request should be addressed to:

Sandra Adams

Director of Corporate Services

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

220 Waterloo Road

London SE1 8SD

who will arrange for a panel of Non-Executive Directors to review the case.

If you are unhappy with the findings of the panel you can then write to the Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner’s Office,

Wycliffe House,

Water Lane,

Wilmslow,

Cheshire SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545 700

Fax: 01625 524 510

If you require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours Sincerely,

Information Governance Department