First reported 24 Feb 2014•Latest report 23 Mar 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes recurring failures, resource constraints, dispatch problems and other dedicated ambulance-service response failures that result in delayed attendance to patients or emergency calls.
Not included
Excludes delays occurring after ambulance arrival, including hospital handover and crew-release delays.
Excludes delays in other emergency services, such as police, fire and rescue, or specialist clinical on-call attendance.
Excludes generic staffing, capacity or information-sharing deficiencies unless the reports explicitly tie them to delayed ambulance attendance.
Reports
118
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
129
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
460
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 Care53
NHS England25
Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust22
Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB9
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust8
Association of Ambulance Chief Executives7
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust7
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust6
Welsh Government6
Conwy County Borough Council4
Denbighshire County Council4
Flintshire County Council4
Gwynedd Council4
Isle of Anglesey County Council4
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board4
NHS trust57
Ministerial department53
Executive non-departmental public body25
Local health board15
Integrated care board14
Health-sector membership body7
Police force7
Devolved government6
Health professional body6
Type not available5
Welsh county borough council4
Welsh county council4
Healthcare site3
Other public body3
Coronial office2
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.
Teesside and Hartlepool
Concerns raised1
Lack of an immediate-response category for patients who require urgent ambulance attendance but do not meet Category 1 criteria
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
Implement national ambulance response standards to prioritise the sickest patients and provide appropriate responses.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 March 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Existing Category 1 and 2 ambulance categorisations are sufficient for effective triage and timely intervention for life-threatening and emergency conditions.
Stated by NHS EnglandExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Development of 999 triage question sets and instructions is assigned to the approved triage system provider.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Whether call handlers stay on the line with deteriorating patients is an operational decision for each ambulance service.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised1
Delays in emergency ambulance arrival during periods of significant demand
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.3
Action
Introduce and operate the emergency ambulance performance framework, including clinically driven call categorisation and tailored clinical screening.
Stated by Jeremy MilesStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 March 2026.
Action
Recruit 28 clinical advisers to support rapid screening and ensure callers receive an appropriate response.
Stated by Jeremy MilesStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 2 March 2026.
Action
Test and evaluate the revised ambulance response framework using clinically meaningful measures of timeliness, quality, patient outcomes and experience.
Stated by Jeremy MilesStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 2 March 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Direct delivery of health and social care services is outside Welsh Ministers’ responsibility.
Stated by Jeremy MilesOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Health boards and NHS trusts are responsible for planning, commissioning and delivering services within the national policy framework.
Stated by Jeremy MilesRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised1
Delays in emergency ambulance response times
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.10
Action
Increase remote clinical support to prioritise available resources and improve safety-netting during significant pressures.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 February 2026.
Action
Enhance staff knowledge, skills, competencies and available alternatives to minimise unnecessary hospital transport.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 February 2026.
Action
Increase ambulance resources by completing roster changes and improving attendance levels.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 February 2026.
Action
Offer more treatment at home or outside hospital in partnership with Health Board colleagues.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 February 2026.
Action
Implement the Welsh emergency ambulance performance framework to provide clinically driven, outcome-focused responses.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 February 2026.
Action
Introduce purple and red emergency call categories for suspected cardiac or respiratory arrest and patients at high risk of arrest.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 February 2026.
Action
Apply rapid clinical screening to non-purple and non-red 999 calls to tailor responses to patient needs.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 February 2026.
Action
Recruit 28 clinical advisers to support rapid 999-call screening and appropriate first responses.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 February 2026.
Action
Introduce an orange time-sensitive response category following clinical review of amber and green calls.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 February 2026.
Action
Test and evaluate the emergency response framework and its broader patient-outcome and experience measurements over 12 months.
Stated by Welsh Ambulance Services NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 February 2026.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Insufficient ambulance service capacity causing delays in ambulance responses
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.9
Action
Publish the 2025/26 Urgent and Emergency Care Plan to improve ambulance response times and patient flow.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Publish the 10 Year Health Plan for England, setting a trajectory towards prevention and reduced urgent-care demand.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Allocate national capital funding for urgent treatment centres, same-day emergency care expansion and new ambulances.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Provide national growth funding to ambulance services to support activity and service improvement.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Continue coordinating with commissioners, integrated care boards, providers and ambulance services to deliver urgent and emergency care improvement plans.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Introduce hospital handover-delay mitigation by directing crews to hospitals with greater capacity and cohorting patients when necessary.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Develop and refer patients to alternative care pathways, where appropriate, to avoid conveyance to hospital.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Maintain and regularly update the performance recovery plan in response to demand and system pressures.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Implement dedicated clinical support linked to dispatch to identify incidents requiring prioritisation of clinical resources.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
Concerns raised1
Significant risk from extended ambulance waits for elderly or vulnerable Category 3 patients
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.2
Action
Continue working with hospitals to deliver handover-time targets.
Stated by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 November 2025.
Action
Submit the 2026/27 service plan to NHS England in February.
Stated by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 14 November 2025.
Cheshire
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of ambulance response for missing persons whose whereabouts are unknown
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.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Ambulance deployment policy is determined by North West Ambulance Service, and its application cannot be commented on by the police.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
South Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised1
Delays and non-attendance in EMAS ambulance response to s.136 conveyance requests
This report raised 10 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
Issue comprehensive guidance on safe conveyance, including health-based vehicle provision and arrangements for section 136 detainees.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 July 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Operational and local partnership concerns are being addressed by Nottinghamshire Police, which is providing the full response.
Stated by College of PolicingRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
South London
Concerns raised1
Delays in allocation and dispatch of ambulances
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.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised1
Delays in ambulance attendance
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.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Welsh Ministers set strategic expectations but are not responsible for delivering health services.
Stated by Welsh GovernmentOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Health boards are responsible for planning, commissioning and delivering local health services within the national policy framework.
Stated by Welsh GovernmentRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
WAST is responsible for delivering emergency ambulance services, while the JCC commissions those services.
Stated by Welsh GovernmentRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Hertfordshire
Concerns raised1
Continuing delays in provision of pre-hospital emergency care
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 2025/26 Urgent and Emergency Care Plan with measures targeting ambulance response, handover, emergency department performance and same-day care.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 May 2025.
Action
Set out priorities for developing neighbourhood health services that deliver more care at home or closer to home.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 May 2025.
Action
Ask local systems to systematically implement six core neighbourhood-health components, including measures to reduce discharge and ambulance handover delays.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 19 May 2025.
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Includes recurring failures, resource constraints, dispatch problems and other dedicated ambulance-service response failures that result in delayed attendance to patients or emergency calls.
