New London record for ambulance delays

The Health Service Journal reports that Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUT) has set a London record for ambulance "black breaches" for the week ending Friday 2 March. A black breach is where patients wait more than an hour in an ambulance because they could not be admitted to either Queens or King George Hospitals.

The 120 shatters the previous record of 87 which was also held by BHRUT. With planned C sections still not back at Queens or King George Hospital (KGH) it is clear that KGH A&E and maternity must stay open and BHRUT A&E and maternity facilities expanded not shut down. While these ambulances are stuck outside A&E they can't go to new 999 calls. The local NHS come up with a plan to stop these black breaches happening.

Andy Walker, a Labour cllr says "I will be raising this issue at the next meeting of Redbridge Health Scruntity on 28th March and will report back to residents on this site. It is unacceptable that lives are being put at risk"

Press links:

• Ilford Recorder 
• W&W Guardian
• Daily Telegraph
• Romford Recorder
• Time FM