First reported 21 Jan 2014•Latest report 18 Jun 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes delays, target failures, capacity pressures, admission barriers and ineffective improvement measures that directly concern the ambulance-to-hospital patient handover process.
Not included
Excludes delays in ambulance response that are not directly linked to hospital handover.
Excludes generic hospital staffing, social care, patient-flow or capacity deficiencies unless the report directly ties them to ambulance-to-hospital handover delays.
Excludes clinical handover failures between hospital wards or other services that do not concern ambulance-to-hospital patient transfer.
Excludes safety monitoring and clinical care while a patient waits where the assertion does not itself identify delayed handover.
Reports
77
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
86
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
337
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department of Health and Social Care43
Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust20
NHS England18
Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB14
Welsh Government9
Aneurin Bevan University LHB4
Care Quality Commission4
Conwy County Borough Council4
Denbighshire County Council4
Flintshire County Council4
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board4
Wrexham County Borough Council4
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust3
Gwynedd Council3
Isle of Anglesey County Council3
Ministerial department43
NHS trust32
Local health board22
Executive non-departmental public body18
Integrated care board12
Devolved government9
Healthcare site5
Health and social care service regulator4
Welsh county borough council4
Welsh county council4
Type not available3
Health professional body2
Registered charity2
Sub-organisation2
Devolved legislature1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Delays in ambulance handover at hospitals
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Publish the Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 to improve ambulance response and handover, emergency department performance, and delayed discharge.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 May 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
There is no robust evidence directly linking delayed hospital discharges to ambulance handover delays.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Delays in ambulance handover to the emergency department
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Monitor urgent and emergency service performance through Trust engagement and available data.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 16 April 2025.
Action
Inspect urgent and emergency services in trusts performing poorly against national emergency-department targets.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 16 April 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
CQC relies on ongoing monitoring, performance data and targeted inspections for emergency services rather than additional action on emergency-department resourcing.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Delays in ambulance handover
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Publish the 2025 mandate to NHS England, prioritising improvements to A&E and ambulance waiting times.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 11 April 2025.
Action
Strengthen NHS and social care partnerships to tackle delayed discharges, reduce hospital stays and free beds.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 11 April 2025.
Action
Set out lessons learned from winter urgent and emergency care pressures.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 11 April 2025.
Action
Put improvements in place to further improve urgent and emergency care services during 2025/26.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 11 April 2025.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Delays in patient handovers at Royal Cornwall Hospital
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Publish the 2025 NHS mandate prioritising improvements to A&E and ambulance waiting times.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 March 2025.
Action
Set out lessons learned from winter urgent and emergency care pressures.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 4 March 2025.
Action
Put improvements in place to further improve urgent and emergency care services during 2025/26.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 4 March 2025.
Teesside and Hartlepool
Concerns raised1
Delays in ambulance crew release following hospital attendance
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
Action
Work with commissioners, integrated care boards, acute providers and ambulance services to implement plans improving ambulance handovers.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 February 2025.
Action
Coordinate multi-agency ambulance-handover improvement and transformation work across the integrated care system.
Stated by NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 February 2025.
Action
Agree revised and standardised policies and procedures for ambulance handover processes, including immediate release, cohorting, diversions and deflections.
Stated by NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 February 2025.
Action
Publish NHS planning guidance requiring action to improve Category 2 ambulance response times and reduce avoidable dispatches, conveyances and handover delays.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 February 2025.
Action
Publish lessons learned from winter urgent and emergency care pressures.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 20 February 2025.
Action
Put in place improvements to urgent and emergency care services ahead of the next winter.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 20 February 2025.
Liverpool and the Wirral
Concerns raised1
Delays in hospital handover of ambulance patients
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
Action
Publish the 2025 NHS mandate prioritising improvements to A&E and ambulance waiting times.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 January 2025.
Action
Publish 2025–26 NHS planning guidance with a target for average Category 2 ambulance responses and actions to reduce dispatches, conveyances and handover delays.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 January 2025.
Action
Work towards 15-minute hospital handovers and implement joint arrangements preventing handovers from exceeding 45 minutes.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 31 January 2025.
Action
Develop NHS and social care local partnerships to reduce delayed discharges and ensure hospital departments are no longer blocked by patients awaiting discharge.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 31 January 2025.
Action
Reform the Better Care Fund so pooled NHS and local-authority funding supports reductions in emergency admissions, delayed discharges and care-home admissions.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 31 January 2025.
Action
Implement plans to improve ambulance handovers, response times and urgent and emergency care flow.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 31 January 2025.
Somerset
Concerns raised1
Delays in handing over ambulance patients to acute hospitals
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Implement and update the handover-delay standard operating procedure, including escalation levels, locally agreed triggers and immediate handover arrangements.
Stated by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 February 2025.
Action
Collaborate with hospitals and system partners through operational meetings, regional task groups and senior county-level meetings to reduce handover delays.
Stated by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 4 February 2025.
Action
Provide Hospital Ambulance Liaison Officer support at acute hospitals when required to improve patient flow.
Stated by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 4 February 2025.
Action
Implement the Somerset Timely Handover Process to initiate rapid handover when transfer has not occurred within 90 minutes of arrival.
Stated by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 February 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Handover delays cannot be resolved by SWAST alone and require action by hospitals and wider system partners.
Stated by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Berkshire
Concerns raised1
Persistent ambulance queuing at hospitals
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
Action
Increase ambulance capacity by growing the workforce, improving hospital flow, reducing handover delays, speeding discharges, and expanding community services.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 December 2024.
Action
Work with local authorities to improve timely patient discharge and monitor performance using discharge metrics.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 December 2024.
Action
Continue working with trusts and services facing significant front-end handover challenges to reduce ambulance handover delays.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 December 2024.
Action
Publish the NHS mandate and planning guidance specifying ambulance response-time targets and actions to reduce avoidable dispatches, conveyances and handover delays.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 December 2024.
Action
Set out lessons learned from winter pressures on urgent and emergency care services.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 December 2024.
Action
Put improvements in urgent and emergency care services in place ahead of the following winter.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 December 2024.
East Riding and Hull
Concerns raised2
Excessive ambulance patient handover waiting times at Hull Royal Infirmary
Inability to hand over emergency ambulance patients into the emergency department at Hull Royal Infirmary
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.15
Action
Implement the phased 045 Handover Plan to reduce ambulance handover times toward a 45-minute target.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Activate the Ambulance Delay Protocol, including site escalation, rapid patient transfers, and prioritisation of suitable patients.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Revise the operating procedure to offload up to eight ambulances hourly and transfer ten patients from the Emergency Department to inpatient wards.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Implement Pull for Safety to maintain regular patient flow from the Emergency Department to assessment areas and wards.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Use escalation areas and reverse boarding protocols to create immediate capacity for arriving patients.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Implement the Temporary Escalation Space and Boarding SOP to manage capacity challenges, patient boarding, and timely Emergency Department handovers.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Open and operate a 54-bed NCTR unit to accommodate patients awaiting discharge and reduce reliance on acute beds.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Implement updated discharge protocols covering local-authority coordination, family and carer involvement, and care transfer hubs.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Conduct board rounds and huddles to identify discharges early and meet ward discharge targets of 30% by noon and 70% by 17:00.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Enforce maximum stays of 24 hours in AMU and 12 hours in the Emergency Department to maintain patient flow.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Monitor ambulance arrivals and Emergency Department capacity in real time and escalate boarding or discharge issues through clinical and senior leadership.
Stated by NHS Humber Health PartnershipStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Continue working with trusts and services facing significant ambulance handover challenges.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Prioritise improving length of stay for admitted patients, particularly emergency admissions lasting at least one day.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Prioritise reducing delays in urgent and emergency care pathways.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Action
Prioritise improving length of stay in NHS-commissioned community beds.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 2 December 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Local and system concerns fall outside NHS England’s national policy and programme remit.
Stated by NHS EnglandOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Local organisations should address the local and system concerns raised in the report.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Swansea and Neath Port Talbot
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of ambulances due to prolonged waits to offload patients at hospitals
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.13
Action
Create a broader range of face-to-face response options to support safe treatment at home and avoid unnecessary hospital conveyance.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Work with commissioners, health boards and system partners to improve access to local care pathways and develop safe referral options.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Action all Red ambulance-release requests and facilitate prompt release of identified emergency resources.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Assess, document and notify site management of decisions to decline Amber1 ambulance-release requests.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Monitor ambulance handover delays and lost hours daily using established performance measures.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Carry out a targeted programme to redesign urgent and emergency care access, services, staffing and infrastructure to reduce patient harm and service failure.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Set annual NHS planning expectations and ambulance handover, patient-flow and delayed-discharge improvement priorities, including a 30% reduction aspiration.
Stated by Welsh GovernmentStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Monitor delivery of urgent and emergency care priorities through bi-monthly Integrated Quality, Planning and Delivery meetings.
Stated by Welsh GovernmentStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Develop and publish national ambulance patient handover guidance setting expectations for relevant NHS organisations and clinicians.
Stated by Welsh GovernmentStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Commission development of a community-based falls response framework to reduce unnecessary ambulance responses and emergency department transfers.
Stated by Welsh GovernmentStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Launch a 50-day integrated care winter challenge funded by additional Welsh Government funding to accelerate safe alternatives to admission and timely discharge.
Stated by Welsh GovernmentStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Review lessons from the winter challenge after its initial 50 days to support sustained implementation of best-practice actions.
Stated by Welsh GovernmentStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Action
Continue engaging with other UK nations and seek to transfer learning to improve ambulance patient handover performance in Wales.
Stated by Welsh GovernmentStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 22 October 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Emergency department handover delays reduce ambulance capacity and constrain the Trust’s ability to provide timely responses despite internal improvement measures.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Ambulance handover delays were solely caused by insufficient hospital capacity, including safe space, clinical support and staffing.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health BoardDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Amber1 ambulance release requests may be declined where accepting additional patients creates a significant or severe clinical safety risk.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health BoardUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
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Includes delays, target failures, capacity pressures, admission barriers and ineffective improvement measures that directly concern the ambulance-to-hospital patient handover process.
