Longer ambulance journeys 'risk'

A study in the Emergency Medicine Journal found the risk of death for people who are unconscious, not breathing or have chest pain rose by 1% for every 10km (6.2 miles) travelled.

The researchers said the findings could affect Government plans to reconfigure emergency care into a limited number of specialist centres which might mean people having to travel further for treatment.

The study of 10,315 seriously ill patients taken to hospital between 1997 and 2001, found that overall 644 - 6% - died, but that the numbers rose with the distance to hospital.

Just 5.8% of those who travelled up to 10km died, while 7.7% of those who were taken between 11km (6.8 miles) and 20km (12.4 miles) did not survive. Among patients who travelled 21km (13 miles) or more the mortality figure rose to 8.8%.

Journeys ranged from 0 to 58km (36 miles), with 5km (3.1 miles) the average distance travelled by ambulance.

The study by researchers at the University of Sheffield found there was a sharp increase in deaths among people with respiratory problems who had to travel further, but less change for patients with chest pain.

The study's authors concluded: "Our data suggests that any changes that may increase journey distances to hospital for all emergency patients may lead to an increase in mortality for a small number of patients with life-threatening medical emergencies, unless care is improved as a result of the organisation."

Responding to the research, shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "This is exactly the kind of evidence we need to determine access to accident and emergency services.

"It undermines the Government's claim that closures are determined on a clinical basis, when in reality they are being driven by deficits and pressures from the European Working Time Directive."