Handover delays at A&E still too long

UHB NHS Trust also facing staff sickness crisis

- GURDIP THANDI Local Democracy Reporter

Ambulances at the QE in Birmingham

AMBULANCES are still spending too much time stuck outside of Birmingham hospitals despite an improvement in handover times.

University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust is working to cut the amount of time lost to ambulance handovers, board members were told.

But a report showed there is an ‘improving trend’ across the trust with latest figures showing the number of 45-minute handover breaches reducing from 4,410 in June to 3,583 in July.

‘The report said both Queen Elizabeth and Good Hope Hospital had improved average ambulance handover time performance but Heartlands had deteriorated year on year.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital's average handover time had reduced from one hour and four minutes in July 2024 to 44 minutes 12 months later.

Good Hope has seen a reduction from one hour and five minutes in July 2024 to one hour and two minutes this year.

But Heartlands had increased from 49 minutes in July 2024 to one hour and six minutes a year later.

Hospital bed availability is the main reason for delays.