Effects of ambulance response times are being evaluated

BMJ 1998;317:684 ( 5 September )

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Effects of ambulance response times are being evaluated

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EDITOR $---$ In his editorial Evans called for a review of the effects of improving ambulance response times on the outcome of coronaryemergencies outside hospital.¹ This research is already underway. Over a two year period, we are investigating, on behalf ofthe Department of Health, the effect that changes in responsetimes are having in four ambulance service areas. These changesare occurring as the services seek to implement the new standardthat 75% of calls involving chest pain or other potentially serioussigns should be responded to within 8 minutes (not 90% of allcalls, as reported by Evans). The research has been designed todetect the size of effect that Norris hypothesises could be achieved(that is, a 7-10% reduction in the number of fatalities).²

However, as Ruston et al have pointed out,³ a bigger effect could probably be achieved if patients sought medical helpearlier in . . . [Full text of this article]

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Cardiac arrests outside hospital: Tom Evans
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