Fears that ambulances continue to by-pass RSCH

4.58.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 12th Dec 2006

Sue Doughty is to raise concerns that ambulances are continuing to take local people to distant hospitals with ambulance chiefs.

Following a call from a concerned resident who has been monitoring ambulance movements in the last few days she said:

"I am deeply worried about the number of times that ambulances have been seen driving at high speed away from the centre of Guildford towards the Hogs Back. Although there will always be occasions when very specialist treatment is needed at another hospital, it appears that these ambulances are picking people up in the Guildford area and taking them to Frimley Park. We were told last week that this practice had stopped but now we are not so sure."

Local people have been angry about the alleged problem with the computer system which told paramedics that the RSCH had no spare capacity in the A & E department. They say that it is suspicious that this error had occurred and had not been spotted. Sue Doughty, who is familiar with the control room system said, "I find it hard to believe that this was just an accident of the computer. This is not a case of "Computer says no" as in Little Britain. This is real life and the operators would surely have spotted what was going on. We need to find out if this is an executive decision designed to make it appear that the RSCH is not required"

Sue has asked that any local residents who have been involved in an emergency since the beginning of this month and who were not taken to the Royal Surrey to get in touch with her on her mobile or by email. Any cases will be treated in confidence.

Sue's contact details:

Email: info@suedoughty.org

Mobile: 07050 156 336