Ambulance handover delays put patients at risk in Wales, report says
It's reportedly affecting the quality of care provided for patients
Long handover delays for ambulance crews prevents patients from being effectively cared for, a report has found.
The review from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales shows that ambulance delays are hindering how responsive the care provided to patients is.
The findings, which were published today, show that handover delays between crews also affects how 'safe' and 'dignified' the care given to patients is.
However, patients were generally positive about their experience of ambulance crews, saying that they were kind and that they managed situations well.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales found that the delays in emergency departments were due to departmental layoffs, differences in staff roles and because of staff availability.
The review also found that there was a lack of clarity between the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST) and emergency department staff over who was responsible for patients until they were brought into the hospital.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales said: "These types of inconsistency can introduce risk and have a detrimental impact on patient care and safety and therefore requires attention."
Some hospitals have introduced new roles to simplify the handover process, but they are not in place across all of Wales' emergency departments.
Alun Jones, Interim Chief Executive of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales said: “It is clear that the dedication and commitment of WAST and ED staff has continued to result in positive patient experiences despite the challenges of the pandemic."
"There is however, significant collaborative work needed to resolve the issue of prolonged handover delays which are a symptom of wider patient flow issues throughout the NHS in Wales."