AACE launch review into ambulance demand

A new project launched by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) aims to establish how the ambulance service in the UK is used.

AACE is calling for volunteers who have recently called 999 to answer questions about the occasion on which an ambulance was called and other services that may have been contacted for help prior to calling 999.

The use of ambulance services has increased by 59% over the last decade, but it is still unclear as to what the specific factors are which have contributed to this change.

‘The overall aim of the review is to investigate the underlying causes of increasing demand on the ambulance service,’ said Dr Melanie Edwards, project researcher for AACE.

‘During the review, we are examining how demand has changed nationally over the past 10 years, investigating what factors have contributed to the rise in emergency ambulance demand, exploring how demand on the emergency ambulance service relates to demand elsewhere in the urgent and emergency care system, and exploring steps that could be taken to mitigate rising demand.

She added: ‘We are using various strands of methodology, which have included a literature review, analysis of operational data from each ambulance service in England, and interviews with key stakeholders (representatives from ambulance services, representatives from organisations relevant to urgent and emergency care, and recent users of the ambulance service).’

Taken from Journal of Paramedic Practice, published 2 June 2014.