Performance standards valid during the two periods of data collection
| Period A 1996/97 | Period B 2001 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Standards and targets | Source (reference) | Standards and targets | Source (reference) | |
| General | Types of calls | Emergency calls | 3 | Category A, B and C calls | 2, 3 |
| Doctors’ urgent calls | Doctors’ urgent calls | ||||
| Response time for all emergency calls (call to scene time) | 8 min for 50% of calls (all areas) | 3 | Cat. A: 8 min 0 sec for 75% of calls (all areas) | 2, 3 | |
| 14 min for 95% of calls (urban areas) | Cat. B: 14 min 0 sec for 95% of calls (urban) | ||||
| 19 min for 95% of calls (rural areas) | 19 min 0 sec for 95% of calls (rural) | ||||
| If AMI is suspected | Time at scene | 15 min (80% for non-cardiac arrest cases) | 5 | Not explicitly specified | – |
| Time to reach hospital | 10 min for 80% of calls | 5 | Not explicitly specified | – | |
| Call to hospital time | Not explicitly specified | 5 | 30 min 0 sec for patients eligible for thrombolysis (% not specified) | 1 | |
| “First responder” scheme | Not applicable. | – | Applicable. | 1 | |
| Delivery of clinical care | Locally developed protocols | 5 | An agreed service-wide protocol | 1 | |
| • ECG | 3 lead (in 90% of cases) | 5 | 12 lead (if available) | 1 | |
| • Aspirin | Yes, if there are no contraindications including aspirin already given | 5 | Yes, at least 300 mg orally | 1 | |
| • IV access | Yes: refused in less than 5%; successful in 90% of the remainder. | 5 | Not explicitly specified in the framework, but recommended in the guidelines | 1, 6 | |
| • Pain relief and high concentration oxygen | Not explicitly specified | 5 | Yes | 1 | |
| • Defibrillator on scene | Yes | 5 | Yes | 1 | |
| • Prehospital thrombolysis | Not applicable. | – | Yes, if call to hospital time is >30 min | 1 | |