Targeting nonsense

In July Breeze Radio reported that our local South Central Ambulance Service was spending up to 10 hours a week appealing unnecessary speeding fines, because the speed cameras failed to pick up blue lights. "The ambulance service which operates across Hampshire and Berkshire received 3,306 speeding tickets in 2013 to 14. The fines given to South Central Ambulance Service amounted to £330,600."

(Photo: BBC)

Then last week came this extraordinary news, that it could now face a £1M fine for failing to meet targets. How nonsensical! This service which covers four rural counties has its funding cut and then is threatened with having a chunk of that precious funding removed. No one seriously doubts, surely, that the paramedics do their level best to reach patients as fast as possible - even exceeding speed limits, blue lights flashing? No one who has been on the receiving end of their care. Of course, everyone is aware of local stations having been closed in the pursuit of "rationalisation", as the whole trust was an amalgamation of four services ten years ago. 

The BBC reported:

'South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) could face a £1m fine over its poor performance, a trust boss has said. The service has been given a penalty notice for not meeting the eight minute response target for life-threatening emergencies. Sue Byrne, SCAS chief operating officer, said: "We work hard not to be in this situation. It isn't acceptable when we don't reach patients in time." It is now working to an action plan to improve to avoid the fine being levied. Ms Byrne said: "The amount is down to the commissioners, but it could be £1m. It will have to be paid if we don't improve. "It's a very challenging environment." Low staffing issues have also been highlighted as a concern to be addressed by the service. Its ambulances would need to reach at least 75% of life-threatening emergency calls in eight minutes by the end of the year for the penalty to be lifted. The service said it was currently reaching 72% within the time target. SCAS serves Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire.'

For me it's a vivid illustration of the stupidity of the culture of targets and fines. It creates an atmosphere of fear and undermines trust which should be at the heart of health care. Let the professionals do what they want and what they're trained to do. Trust them.