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Staff lied over ambulance times Ambulance records 'inaccurate'
(about 11 hours later)
Records of how long crews took to answer emergency calls were falsified in 123 cases last year, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has admitted. Records of how long crews took to answer emergency calls were inaccurate in 123 cases last year, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has admitted.
The two members of staff who doctored records were suspended during an inquiry. Both have returned to work. They initially said the discrepancy was caused by the falsification of records, however, they have since said it was down to computer error.
The service said pressure to meet targets and provide the fastest possible response times was given as motivation for falsifying records. The Ambulance Service said the incident had been fully investigated.
It said that improved procedures are now in place. Two members of staff who were suspended during an inquiry into the incident have since returned to work.
Chairwoman of Stormont's Health committee Iris Robinson said the revelation would deal another blow to public confidence. Chairwoman of Stormont's Health committee Iris Robinson said the incident would undermine public confidence.
"This is very worrying indeed," said the Democratic Unionist Assembly member."This is very worrying indeed," said the Democratic Unionist Assembly member.
She added: "It's very concerning to me and I will be raising it with the health minister at the first opportunity."She added: "It's very concerning to me and I will be raising it with the health minister at the first opportunity."
The Ambulance Service says that the dispatch centre - where all Northern Ireland's emergency ambulance calls are answered - is a highly pressurised working environment. The Ambulance Service said that the 123 inaccurate records represented less than 1% of all the calls answered at the centre during that time.
The service said that the 123 doctored records represent less than 1% of all the calls answered at the centre during that time. All the records related to potentially life-threatening emergencies over a seven or eight month period between April and November last year, the service said.
It pointed out that it does not condone the practice of falsifying records.
All the doctored records related to potentially life-threatening emergencies over a seven or eight month period between April and November last year, the service said.