A TRIAL aimed at reducing the number of ambulance call-outs is being hailed a success after a reduction of 70,000 journeys in six months.

The South West Ambulance service was picked by the Government to take part in the pilot scheme which saw call handlers given more time to decide on the nature of an emergency.

Normally, the handler has a minute to decide how serious the call is before deciding whether to dispatch an ambulance.

However, during the trial, this time was extended to three minutes, meaning the handler has longer to decide how serious the situation is.

The trial was launched because of a huge surge in the number of call-outs, which were putting extreme pressure on the service, as well as increasing costs, NHS England said.

Speaking to the BBC, Neil Le Chevalier, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust’s director of operations, said: “When somebody dials 999, they’re in a panic, so it can take up to 45 seconds just trying to find out where the patient is so we’re frequently sending an ambulance out under blue lights on an address incident only, not knowing what we’re dealing with,” he said.

“This new pilot gives us two extra minutes to ascertain exactly what’s wrong.”

As a result of having more time to speak with the person on the other end of the line, the “hear and treat” rate had more than doubled because callers were able to identify less serious conditions over the phone.

“It’s been very successful and there have been no safety issues,” said Neil.

“Instead of dispatching an ambulance, we can send a mental health team, a falls team or indeed refer to a GP if that’s more appropriate.”

The trial was introduced in the south west region as well as London to see if care to patients could be improved.

Speaking at the launch of trial, Professor Keith Willett, the national director for acute care at NHS England, said: “We are piloting these new arrangements because on medical grounds, we believe they will increase the availability of ambulance vehicles and paramedic staff, providing patients with a better service and improving their chances of survival especially those with the most serious conditions."

“It’s not about relaxing standards. By acting with slightly less haste on the calls, we believe we can get to more patients with more speed.

“Some conditions will be upgraded to Red 1 status, requiring a more urgent response than is currently the case.”