Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/5024
Title: Changes in the emergency workload of the London ambulance service between 1989 and 1999
Authors: Peacock, PJ
Peacock, JL
Victor, CR
Chazot, C
Issue Date: 2005
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
Citation: Emergency Medicine Journal 22(1): 56 - 59, Jan 2005
Abstract: Objectives: To examine changes in the emergency workload of the London Ambulance Service (LAS) between 1989 and 1999. Methods: All emergency responses by the LAS during week 16 in each of 1989, 1996, and 1999 were studied. For each week, 999 call responses were analysed by time and day of call, and age/sex of the patient. Call response rates were calculated using age/sex census population estimates for London. Changes in call rates over time were calculated as rate ratios. Results: Emergency responses increased from 6624 to 13 178 in the index weeks of 1989–1999. The ratio of response rates (1999/1989) was 1.91 (95% CI: 1.85 to 1.96). The proportion of out of hours calls increased significantly, from 68.8% in 1989 to 71.3% in 1999 (p = 0.0003). Response rates rose significantly more steeply for male patients than female patients from 1989 to 1999: rate ratio (95% CI); male patients 2.00 (1.91 to 2.08), female patients 1.69 (1.62 to 1.77), p<0.0001. Response rates varied by age in each of the three years investigated. Rates were consistently highest for patients aged 75 and above, and lowest for those aged 5–14. However, there was no evidence that call rates had increased disproportionately in any particular age group (p = 0.79). Conclusions: Demand for emergency ambulance services in London has doubled in a decade. This increase is similar for all age groups, with no evidence of a greater rise in demand among older people. Call rates have increased more steeply in men than in women. Demographic changes do not explain the observed increases in demand.
Description: This is an open access journal - © 2005 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the College of Emergency Medicine. All rights reserved
URI: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/5024
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emj.2004.016741
ISSN: 1472-0205
Appears in Collections:Dept of Health Sciences Research Papers

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
Fulltext.pdf70.72 kBAdobe PDFView/Open


Items in BURA are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.