Patients left in ambulances for up to FIVE hours

Oh yeah. I'm just thrilled by the prospect of universal health care.

From the U.K by way of the DailyMail

Seriously ill patients are being kept in ambulances outside hospitals for hours so NHS trusts do not miss Government targets.

Thousands of people a year are having to wait outside accident and emergency departments because trusts will not let them in until they can treat them within four hours, in line with a Labour pledge.

The hold-ups mean ambulances are not available to answer fresh 999 calls.

(read the rest)

Looks like the law of unintended consequences coming home to roost.

Hat tip to Reformed Chicks Blabbing for the link.