Ambulance target times 'immoral'

NEW guidelines designed to speed up ambulance turnaround times at hospitals have been branded "immoral and unacceptable" by experts.

- By Lucy Johnston

NHS England has issued a directive stating patient handovers at Accident and Emergency departments must be completed within 15 minutes, with no delay beyond 45 minutes - regardless of hospital pressures.

Critics argue this will force paramedics to "drop and go", leaving seriously ill patients stranded in corridors, without life-saving equipment, privacy or dignity.

The move comes as figures reveal hospitals are packed, with record-high numbers of patients battling norovirus, flu and winter infections.

Latest Government figures show 98,101 beds were occupied daily - 96% of all adult hospital beds the highest this winter.

Some 961 patients a day have been hospitalised with norovirus-up 69% on last year.

And more than 13,000 were stuck on wards despite being medically fit to be discharged.