Head of a scandal-hit ambulance trust resigns

by Guest Tue Mar 15, 2016 6:30 am

The head of a scandal-hit ambulance trust has resigned ahead of the publication of a damning report into a policy to deliberately delay responses to thousands of 111 calls. Tony Thorne, chairman of South East Coast Ambulance service, stood down on Monday following emergency meetings at the trust. Meanwhile Paul Sutton, the chief executive who personally authorised the secret protocols is understood to have been given a leave of absence, on the eve of the report's publication. Up to 20,000 patients were subject to deliberate delays under the covert operation, which forced high-risk cases in the South East to automatically wait up to twice as long if their call came via the 111 helpline.

Last month The Telegraph disclosed findings from a draft report into the scandal, which said the scheme was introduced on the personal orders of Mr Sutton, despite pleas from senior managers who said it was too dangerous. The report also criticised lax governance at the trust, which meant it's board was not informed about the protocols, in place for two months last winter until whistleblowers spoke out. On Monday the trust's chairman resigned, ahead of publication of the final damning report, which is expected within 24 hours.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/12194068/Head-of-a-scandal-hit-ambulance-trust-resigns.html