Importance Score: 78 / 100 🔴
Ambulance Delays Cause Patient Deaths Amid NHS Emergency Department Gridlock
Ambulance service crews across England are witnessing patients die within ambulances due to extensive hospital handover delays at emergency departments, a recent survey by Unison reveals. This dire situation arises from severe congestion in some of the nation’s hospitals, leading to queues of up to 20 ambulances outside A&E units in certain regions. In numerous instances, paramedics have been compelled to wait exceeding 12 hours before they could transfer patients into the care of hospital staff, highlighting a critical healthcare crisis impacting patient safety.
Impact of Ambulance Wait Times on Patients and Paramedics
The survey, encompassing nearly 600 ambulance personnel, sheds light on the detrimental effects of these prolonged waits on both patients and the ambulance crews attending to them. Unison cautions that “car park care” is becoming increasingly commonplace, with hospital medical professionals treating patients within the confines of ambulances.
- Over 77% of paramedics and emergency medical technicians reported caring for patients in ambulances while held up outside emergency departments in the past year.
- 68% have experienced waiting in hospital corridors or other areas, often with a single paramedic responsible for multiple patients to enable colleagues to respond to new emergencies.
Patient Health Deterioration and Fatal Outcomes
Concerningly, over two-thirds of respondents indicated that patients’ conditions worsened during these lengthy waits. Even more alarmingly, 5% reported instances of patient deaths in their care directly attributable to the extensive delays in hospital admission.
Breaching Handover Time Targets
The designated handover target for ambulance crews transferring patients to emergency departments is 15 minutes, with a maximum acceptable handover time of 30 minutes. However, the survey data starkly contrasts with these guidelines.
Extent of Handover Delays
The survey, conducted in February and March and involving 588 staff, revealed the alarming prevalence of extreme delays:
- Approximately 16% of respondents reported waiting outside emergency departments for 12 hours or longer.
- At least 53% experienced delays exceeding six hours.
Paramedic Testimonies Highlight Crisis
Gavin Taylor, a Unison representative and ambulance worker in north-west England, with 58 years of experience, described extended handover delays as a “regular occurrence.” He expressed his distress, stating, “It’s heartbreaking because we are here as a caring profession, and the delays significantly impact patient care and wellbeing.”
Union Raises Alarm at Health Conference
The survey findings were released as health professionals gathered in Liverpool for Unison’s annual health conference, commencing on Monday, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these issues within the healthcare system.
Voices from the Frontline
Survey respondents shared poignant accounts of the crisis:
- One paramedic recounted the demoralizing experience of hearing dispatch urgently requesting crews for life-threatening emergencies while being stuck in queues at hospitals, unable to respond.
- Another described spending entire 12-hour shifts queueing outside hospitals as “soul-destroying,” highlighting the emotional toll on ambulance staff.
Massive Time Lost Due to Ambulance Queues
A prior investigation revealed that ambulances collectively spent over 1.5 million hours – equivalent to 62,500 days – waiting to offload patients at A&E departments in the year leading up to November 2024, underscoring the massive scale of operational disruption.
Harm to Patients Due to Delays
It is estimated that in the past year, 414,137 patients suffered some degree of harm due to prolonged ambulance waits before hospital admission. Tragically, 44,409 of these patients experienced “severe potential harm,” with delays causing permanent injury, long-term health issues, or death, translating to over 850 cases of severe harm per week.
Unison Calls for Urgent Action
Christina McAnea, Unison’s general secretary, emphasized the critical need for immediate intervention to ensure patients receive timely care, stating, “Ambulance workers strive to provide the best possible care for their patients: rapid response, immediate treatment, and swift transfer to A&E when needed.”
“However, this ideal is no longer the reality. ‘Car park care’ is becoming increasingly normalized. Ambulances and hospital corridors are now functioning as improvised treatment areas, forcing staff to provide extended care in unsuitable environments.”
“The strain on the NHS is unsustainable. Decisive action is vital to address escalating demand and guarantee patients receive the prompt and necessary care they deserve.”
NHS Response to Pressure
An NHS spokesperson acknowledged the “significant pressures across A&E, ambulance services, and hospital wards,” recognizing the impact on both patients and staff. They stated, “We are collaborating closely with the government and local NHS services to enhance patient outcomes and support frontline teams.”
“This year’s planning guidance directs local NHS systems to collaborate across ambulance services, hospitals, and community settings to ensure ambulance handovers do not exceed 45 minutes, reflecting our commitment to improving patient flow and reducing delays nationwide.”
Government Statement on NHS Reforms
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson commented, “We inherited an NHS facing significant challenges, with unacceptable waiting times for urgent care. Long ambulance handover delays are completely unacceptable, which is why we are undertaking fundamental health service reforms through our plan for change.”
“This strategy includes shifting services away from hospitals and into community settings to ensure patients can access appropriate treatment closer to home, in addition to recruiting 1,000 extra GPs to provide earlier interventions. These measures will alleviate pressure on our strained ambulance services and A&E departments and contribute to reducing waiting times for individuals in genuine need of urgent medical attention.”