December 13, 2017 4.34 pm This story is over 74 months old

No confidence vote in Lincolnshire non-emergency ambulance service

A damning assessment.

Councillors on Lincolnshire’s Health Scrutiny Committee have unanimously given a vote of no confidence in the non-emergency patient transport service provided by Thames Ambulance Service.

The committee expressed concern at both the performance of the service, which is commissioned by Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group, and reports of poor treatment of volunteer drivers.

Councillors also unanimously voted to request monthly updates on the performance of Thames Ambulance.

Health Scrutiny Committee chairman Councillor Carl Macey said: “Many of the councillors on the committee have received complaints about Thames Ambulance Service from local residents and the volunteer drivers, as have Healthwatch Lincolnshire.

“We have heard accounts of serious delays, patients missing appointments, patients failing to be collected and frankly abysmal treatment of people who volunteer their time to transport patients around the county.

“The committee have serious concerns about how this service is being run and, despite an improvement plan being put in place, we have no confidence that improvements will be made to deliver the service that our residents deserve.”