Ambulance handover delays at the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) have raised alarms among healthcare executives, with reports indicating over 1,800 hours lost due to delays when transferring patients to A&E departments within just one week. Chief executive Simon Constable did not mince words during the last board meeting, calling the situation "unacceptable" and expressing the urgency for improvements.
The troubling figures emerged during discussions at the board meeting on March 12, 2025. The urgency of the problem was underscored by the fact the trust recorded significant delays across various weeks. For example, the week starting January 27 saw 1,729 hours of delays, which then escalated to 1,806 hours lost during the week of February 24. Even as figures improved slightly with 936 hours lost by the week of March 3, Constable made it clear, stating, "There has been a significant improvement. That's the best figure we have had since December. But...that is still unacceptable."
These delays are concerning not only because of the total hours lost but also due to the average handover time exceeding two hours during some weeks. Health authorities have pointed to various factors contributing to these delays. According to Constable, "While there are external factors, there are a lot of things we need to fix from an internal point of view." Various infectious diseases, including flu, COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus, have been identified as contributing factors to the increasing strain on hospital resources during the winter months.
It was also noted during the board meeting the winter of 2025 has continued to present challenges, with conditions declared as "critical incidents" following patterns first established at the end of 2024. These recurring issues have compelled health officials to seek out immediate strategies to counteract the devastating impacts of rising patient numbers.
To tackle the persistent problem, UHNM has implemented several recovery actions aimed at enhancing patient flow through its emergency departments. One approach included standing down non-urgent elective work whenever feasible, allowing greater capacity for handling emergencies. Outpatient appointments have also been paused to reroute emergency department teams where they are most needed.
Another key strategy involves increasing the number of patient discharges—an endeavor aimed at freeing up valuable bed space. Recent updates revealed the trust has opened up 50 additional beds at community hospitals to help address the current overflow of patients experiencing delays.
The situation at UHNM reflects wider challenges facing the NHS amid rising demand for services. Each statistic released paints the picture of not only the strain felt by ambulance crews but also the frustrations faced by families waiting for their loved ones to receive timely care. The road to improvement may be arduous, but hospital officials are pressing forward with dedicated efforts to alleviate the crisis.
Simon Constable and his team continue to analyze the root causes behind delays, stressing the importance of both external awareness and internal accountability. Patients deserve timely care as healthcare systems strive to meet growing demand. Each passing week offers more data, serving not just as benchmarks of failure but as potential turning points for systemic improvements.
