FOI 25-577 Critically Ill Patients
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 25-577 Critically Ill Patients
- Request Date
- 12 Dec 2025
- Response Date
- 07 Jan 2026
- Information Requested
How many ambulances were sent out to critically ill pediatric patients per annum (2020-2025) –
How many ambulances were sent out to critically ill adult patients per annum (2020-2025)
- any numerical data on incorrect dosages compared to height-based weight estimation in pediatric critically ill patients (2020-2025)
- any numerical data on incorrect dosages of medication administered by an ambulance clinician in adult critically ill patients (2020-2025)
- any patterns that have been identified in cases where drug dosages have been incorrect in paediatrics
- any schemes or projects in place or coming into place to reduce the incorrect drug dosages in pediatric critically ill patients
- any contact details of anyone who could be interested in helping, or reducing the dosage errors in pediatric patients
- How often do registered paramedics undergo clinical training in critically ill paediatric patients, and what type of training does this include
- How often do registered paramedics undergo clinical training in critically ill adult patients, and what type of training does this include
- What is the reporting system for incorrect medication doses, and does it work? Critically ill = cardiac arrest, seizures, anaphylaxis, hypoglycaemia, CAT 1
- Response
The Scottish Ambulance Service does not hold a definitive dataset that identifies ‘Critically ill’ patients. For the purposes of the of your request, the Scottish Ambulance Service has provided information for call categories red and purple which have the definition below:
Purple: Our most critically ill patients. This is where a patient is identified as having a 10% or more chance of having a cardiac arrest. The actual cardiac arrest rate across this category is approximately 53%.
Red: Our next most serious category where a patient is identified as having a likelihood of cardiac arrest between 1% and 9.9%, or having a need for resuscitation interventions such as airway management above 2%. Currently the cardiac arrest rate in this category is approximately 1.5%.
How many ambulances were sent out to critically ill paediatric patients per annum (2020-2025)
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Purple
798
1557
2104
2109
2342
1939
Red
6644
10564
12262
12372
14210
11834
How many ambulances were sent out to critically ill adult patients per annum (2020-2025)
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Purple
11894
15566
17231
19600
20778
18086
Red
56023
73988
79419
86024
93214
85790
Please note caution when interpreting this data – There is a number of occasions when the age cannot be verified or can’t be recorded. The count has been given below. There will be unidentified paediatric or adult patients included in this dataset.
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Purple
2389
2425
2253
2007
1868
2591
Red
7394
8876
8340
8059
7969
9264
any numerical data on incorrect dosages compared to height-based weight estimation in paediatric critically ill patients (2020-2025); any numerical data on incorrect dosages of medication administered by an ambulance clinician in adult critically ill patients (2020-2025); any patterns that have been identified in cases where drug dosages have been incorrect in paediatrics
Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), public authorities are required to provide access to recorded information that they hold at the time of the request. However, FOISA does not oblige authorities to create new information in order to respond to a request. This means that if the requested information does not exist in a recorded form, the authority is not required to generate, compile, or otherwise create it. The Scottish Ambulance Service does not hold information incorrect dosages in a way that allows us to identify and report on critically ill patients; this would require complex skill and judgement. It is for this reason we have applied section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002, as information not held.
- any schemes or projects in place or coming into place to reduce the incorrect drug dosages in paediatric critically ill patients
The Scottish Ambulance Service does not have any specific schemes planned or in place to reduce paediatric dose errors.
- any contact details of anyone who could be interested in helping, or reducing the dosage errors in paediatric patients
Direct contact details are exempt for release under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 under section 38(1)(b) as personal information.
Any developments can be emailed to sas.medicines@nhs.scot
- How often do registered paramedics undergo clinical training in critically ill paediatric patients, and what type of training does this include
Within the Scottish Ambulance Service, Paediatric critical care training is delivered through the Learning in Practice (LiP) programme, which is the organisational framework for ongoing clinical education and revalidation activity.
As part of LiP, all registered Paramedics undertake:
- Mandatory Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) updates as standing items within each LiP cycle, which include paediatric resuscitation and life-threatening presentations in line with UK Resuscitation Council guidance.
- Scenario-based learning, simulation, case discussion and reflective practice covering high-risk, low-frequency presentations such as paediatric cardiac arrest, seizures, anaphylaxis and hypoglycaemia.
- Ongoing CPD, clinical updates and medicines management education aligned to national guidance and learning from governance processes (through bulletin updates, web-based engagement sessions etc).
This ensures paediatric critical care skills are regularly refreshed and maintained.
- How often do registered paramedics undergo clinical training in critically ill adult patients, and what type of training does this include
Adult critical care training is delivered in the same way, through the LiP programme, and includes:
- Mandatory BLS and ALS training as standing items within each LiP cycle, covering adult cardiac arrest, peri-arrest care, airway management, anaphylaxis, major trauma, sepsis and hypoglycaemia etc.
- Scenario-based and reflective learning focused on high-risk adult presentations.
- Ongoing CPD, clinical updates and medicines management education aligned to national guidance and learning from governance processes (through bulletin updates, web-based engagement sessions etc).
Additional info
Registered Paramedics are professionally accountable for maintaining their competence, skills and fitness to practise in line with HCPC standards of proficiency and continuing professional development requirements. The SAS LiP model supports this by providing structured, recurring opportunities for skills refresh, learning and reflection, but responsibility for maintaining registration and clinical currency ultimately sits with the individual registrant.
- What is the reporting system for incorrect medication doses, and does it work?
The reporting system is InPhase. Following detection of a medication error, the clinician will take any corrective steps, inform the patient/parents/receiving clinicians and subsequently complete an adverse incident report via InPhase. All incidents are reviewed both locally and nationally. Medication errors will be reviewed using a standard framework which looks to identify any themes/system learning. All medication errors are reported quarterly to the Medicines Management Group.
