The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) said as many as 57,000 experienced 'potential harm', with 36,000 patients being delayed at least two hours and 23,000 waiting more than three.
Martin Flaherty, AACE managing director, said:"Our December 2022 data for handover delays at hospital emergency departments shows some of the worst figures we have recorded to date and clearly underlines that not enough is being done to reduce and eradicate these dangerous, unsafe and harmful occurrences.
"The impact on patients is significant and we estimate that around 57,000 patients experienced potential harm as a result of long handover delays in December 2022, with around 6,000 of these experiencing severe harm.Sky's Becky Johnson rides along on a 12-hour paramedic shift to witness the pressure on the service and hears how it's putting patients' lives at risk
"We are also acutely aware of how difficult these current working conditions are for ambulance service employees and the considerable impact they are having on their mental health and wellbeing. Commenting on the report, Sara Gorton, head of health at the union Unison said:"On the government's watch, the ambulance service has gone from being under pressure during the winter to barely coping all year round. No wonder people are leaving faster than new recruits can be appointed.The NHS has said it faced a"twindemic" of flu and COVID while also struggling to discharge mentally fit patients from hospital into social care.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'I will quit if they stop us striking': Ambulance workers share anger over anti-strike law💬 “We’re supposed to be a democracy in this country” Ambulance workers and other emergency NHS staff could leave the profession if the Government presses ahead with controversial laws on strike action
Read more »
Ambulance staff walk out while PM insists there's 'no magic wand' for more payAmbulance staff walk out in latest strike action as Rishi Sunak insists there's 'no magic wand' for more pay
Read more »
Amanda Owen details scary medical emergency involving air ambulanceOur Yorkshire Farm star Amanda Owen revealed she went through a calamity just before Christmas, with one of her children rushed to hospital
Read more »
How much ambulance workers get paid and why they are strikingParamedics, emergency care assistants and call handlers are walking out across the North West
Read more »
NI ambulance worker's car windows smashed while he was on shiftAn Alliance representative said to target a person working for the emergency services was 'disgusting'
Read more »
Stapleton: Pedestrian in hospital after being hit by carThe man, in his 60s, was taken by ambulance where he remains, police say.
Read more »