Thousands of patients are facing extended waits at Yorkshire hospitals as ambulance handover delays soar across England. The latest figures reveal a concerning trend, with roughly one-third of patients experiencing waits exceeding an hour before being transferred to hospital staff. This situation has prompted calls for long-term solutions from health experts, who warn of the potential safety risks posed by these delays.
Hundreds of patients arriving at Yorkshire's hospitals via ambulance are facing delays of over an hour, according to the latest NHS England figures. These figures reveal that approximately one-third of patients in Yorkshire experience these extended waits before being transferred to hospital staff. This situation stands in stark contrast to national guidelines that stipulate ambulance patients should be handed over to accident and emergency personnel within 15 minutes.
This surge in ambulance handover delays is a nationwide concern, prompting a health and social care think tank to issue a warning about the 'real safety risk' these delays pose to patients. The think tank urged the Government to adopt a 'long-term' strategy to address this pressing issue. Across England, 21 percent of NHS handovers to hospitals during the week ending January 5th exceeded the one-hour mark, a significant jump from 13 percent the previous week and 16 percent during the same period last year. Furthermore, 42 percent of NHS handovers to hospitals took longer than half an hour, a substantial increase from 32 percent the previous week and 35 percent over the same period last year. A disheartening 26 percent of ambulance handovers in England were completed within the 15-minute target.The text also provides a breakdown of the latest figures for each NHS trust in Yorkshire, including Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and many more. Experts have voiced their concerns regarding these delays. Danielle Jefferies, a senior analyst at The King's Fund, stated that ambulance handover delays reflect the strain on the entire healthcare system and pose a genuine risk to patient safety. She highlighted the vulnerability of patients waiting on ambulances, who often represent some of the most critically ill individuals. Jefferies emphasized the potential for distress and escalation of health complications due to these prolonged waits. She also pointed out the impact on NHS staff who experience frustration and inefficiency when forced to remain with patients for extended periods, hindering their ability to respond to 999 calls. Jefferies urged the Government to prioritize long-term solutions that alleviate hospital backlogs and create more space for acute patients and ambulances.A spokesperson for the College of Paramedics expressed deep concern that this winter would be another challenging one for both patients and their members. They called for increased government investment to alleviate the strain on ambulance and emergency services. The spokesperson emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues, stating that the rise in hospital handover delays jeopardizes patient well-being and hinders timely access to care in the community. An NHS spokesperson acknowledged the need for further action to reduce unacceptable wait times for patients in certain areas. They underscored the impact of increased demand and high hospital bed occupancy on handover times, while assuring the public that NHS teams are prioritizing the sickest patients and making every effort to prevent avoidable hospital admissions. The spokesperson recognized the immense pressure faced by emergency services staff who have worked tirelessly to anticipate this busy winter season
AMBULANCE DELAYS HOSPITAL HANDOVERS NHS ENGLAND PATIENT SAFETY HEALTHCARE CRISIS
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