First reported 9 Jan 2014•Latest report 2 Feb 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes recurring deficiencies in ambulance-service capacity, including insufficient funded ambulances, crews, emergency-response vehicles, staffing or resource resilience where these limit the service's ability to cover emergency calls and meet operational demand.
Not included
Excludes delayed ambulance attendance, dispatch, call triage, radio communication and hospital handover failures when ambulance capacity itself is not the deficient condition.
Excludes generic recruitment, retention or funding concerns unless they directly result in insufficient ambulance-service capacity for emergency calls.
Excludes a single unresourced call or isolated response delay where no continuing ambulance-capacity deficiency is asserted.
Reports
58
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
62
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
208
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 Care32
NHS England11
Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust8
Association of Ambulance Chief Executives4
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust4
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust4
NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board3
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust3
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust3
Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB2
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board2
NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board2
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust2
Welsh Government2
Aneurin Bevan University LHB1
Ministerial department32
NHS trust27
Executive non-departmental public body11
Integrated care board11
Local health board5
Health-sector membership body4
Devolved government2
Health professional body2
Type not available2
Airport operator1
Air transport operator1
Clinical commissioning group1
Community interest company1
Coronial office1
English unitary authority1
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.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Delays in ambulance response caused by insufficient ambulance crews and vehicles
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
Publish the delivery plan for recovering urgent and emergency care services.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Action
Provide additional funding to expand ambulance capacity and improve response times.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Action
Deliver new ambulances and specialist mental health vehicles to increase ambulance capacity.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStatus unclearThe respondent did not make the status of this action clear when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Action
Maintain the additional ambulance capacity funded for 2023/24 during 2024/25.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Action
Increase ambulance workforce capacity through investment in NHS ambulance and support staff.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Action
Continue working with NHS England to reduce ambulance waiting and response times.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Ambulance performance is reviewed through the existing Strategic Partnership and Transformation Board.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Norfolk
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of emergency ambulances during periods of high service demand
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.7
Action
Establish a clinician escalation process for delayed inter-facility transfers, including clinical review, CAD documentation, prioritisation decisions and communication with requesting clinicians.
Stated by Spire HealthcareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Action
Continue considering options to improve timely patient transfers, including liaison with private ambulance providers and national-level solution development.
Stated by Spire HealthcareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Action
Maintain the Norfolk D1 system call place with stakeholders to discuss lengthy hospital handover delays and interim measures.
Stated by East of England Ambulance Service NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Action
Operate the Category 1 drop-and-go process so crews waiting at hospital can respond to Category 1 calls immediately.
Stated by East of England Ambulance Service NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Action
Operate the Category 2 rapid-release programme to enable eligible crews to hand over patients within 10 minutes and respond to Category 2 calls.
Stated by East of England Ambulance Service NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Action
Continue regular executive-level escalation to address worsening hospital handover delays.
Stated by East of England Ambulance Service NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Action
Review the current delay action plan.
Stated by East of England Ambulance Service NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Cheshire
Concerns raised1
Failure to match ambulance response capacity to 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.1
Action
Continue lobbying national bodies for changes to reduce hospital handover delays and improve ambulance capacity.
Stated by Association of Ambulance Chief ExecutivesStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 10 October 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
System-wide causes of ambulance delays must be addressed nationally by NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the wider health system.
Stated by Association of Ambulance Chief ExecutivesRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
National demand-and-capacity modelling is to be led by NHS England rather than undertaken by the organisation.
Stated by Association of Ambulance Chief ExecutivesRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of ambulances for urgent 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.1
Action
Invest an additional £3.3 billion in each of 2023–24 and 2024–25 to improve urgent and emergency care performance.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 5 October 2022.
Norfolk
Concerns raised1
Insufficient emergency ambulance availability for timely patient response
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
Participate in daily system calls with hospitals and other stakeholders to address lengthy handover delays and interim measures.
Stated by EASTStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Action
Operate the Category 1 drop-and-go process to release crews for Category 1 emergencies.
Stated by EASTStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Action
Operate the Category 2 rapid-release programme to release crews within 10 minutes for validated Category 2 calls.
Stated by EASTStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Action
Review the current delay action plan.
Stated by EASTStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Insufficient ambulance service resources to meet demand
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.1
Action
Invest in the ambulance workforce, increasing NHS ambulance and support staff numbers by over 40% since August 2010.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 September 2022.
Inner South London
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of timely paramedic response during exceptional ambulance-service demand
This report raised 4 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.
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 raised2
Risk of deaths associated with delayed ambulance transfer or unavailability
Failure to make ambulance resources available for lower-priority or later-registered calls
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.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Shortages of ambulance staff and emergency vehicles
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.2
Action
Increase the NHS ambulance and support workforce by 40% compared with February 2010.
Stated by WILL QUINCE MPStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 April 2022.
Action
Mandate annual training of 3,000 paramedic graduates nationally from 2021 through 2024.
Stated by WILL QUINCE MPStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 April 2022.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide timely Category 2 ambulance responses during periods of high 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.1
Action
Provide significant commissioner investment in the ambulance service to support response standards and frontline capacity.
Stated by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 March 2021.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
NWAS, rather than commissioners, determines ambulance deployment, planned resources, shift arrangements and operational service delivery.
Stated by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care BoardRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
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Includes recurring deficiencies in ambulance-service capacity, including insufficient funded ambulances, crews, emergency-response vehicles, staffing or resource resilience where these limit the service's ability to cover emergency calls and meet operational demand.
