Concern as ambulances left stuck at hospitals

WAIT TIMES DOWN BUT WORK NEEDED

- BY GURDIP THANDI

AMBULANCES are still spending too much time stuck outside Birmingham hospitals due to being unable to transfer patients to busy departments.

Members of the University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust's board were told there had been an increase in 45-minute ambulance handover breaches.

This has raised concerns for the well-being of West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) staff, particularly those unable to finish shifts on time as a result.

Bosses heard work is now taking place between UHB and WMAS to draw up a plan to alleviate the issue.

A report to the board said there had been a total of 3,831 breaches at Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands and Good Hope hospitals in September compared with 3,410 in August.