Home / Health / Ambulance Delays Hit Record High in East Midlands
Ambulance Delays Hit Record High in East Midlands
5 Mar
Summary
- East Midlands Ambulance Service lost over 19,500 hours in January due to handover delays.
- Average patient handover time increased to 41 minutes, significantly above the 15-minute target.
- Nottinghamshire hospitals declared critical incidents in January amid capacity and demand issues.
In January, East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) experienced its worst month for handover delays since April 2025, losing more than 19,500 hours. The average time to admit a patient increased to 41 minutes, significantly exceeding the 15-minute national target and marking a seven-minute rise from the previous month.
This situation unfolded as Nottinghamshire's hospital trusts declared critical incidents in January. These declarations were due to severe and sustained issues with both capacity and demand. December and November also saw substantial losses, with nearly 14,500 and over 16,200 hours lost, respectively.
Major hospital trusts in the region reported significant handover times, including Royal Derby Hospital at 49 minutes and 16 seconds, Leicester Royal Infirmary at just under 40 minutes, and Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham at 36 minutes and 48 seconds.
EMAS reported that in February, 19.3% of calls were guided to other services, a measure seen as positive for directing patients to appropriate care and freeing up ambulances. Despite hospital pressures in January, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust reported an average handover time of 36 minutes.
