Ambulance service 'lost' 5,000 hours waiting to hand over patients at hospitals
This is equivalent to 218 days’ worth of staff and vehicles that could not respond to people waiting in the community for help
New data revealed that the South Central Ambulance Service “lost” 5,238 hours in September waiting to hand over patients at hospitals.
Data revealed at a Hampshire County Council meeting showed that the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) “lost” 5,238 hours waiting to hand over patients in September.
This is equivalent to 218 days’ worth of staff and vehicles that could not respond to people waiting in the community for help.
Residents in Hampshire are responsible for approximately 22,000 incidents a month out of a total of approximately 50,000, representing 36.7 percent of SCAS’ total activity.
Between April and September 2024/25, the number of incidents fell by around 250 a month. However, officers warned that demand is likely to increase again due to winter pressures.
Delays in handovers to hospitals significantly impact SCAS and the ability to respond to patients.
The average handover time across the SCAS area is now 00:31:33. However, the average at the Queen Alexandra Hospital (QAH) is 01:33:59.
This means that between April and September, the QAH lost a total of 18,533 hours, followed by Southampton Hospital, which lost 1,930 hours, North Hants, which lost 1,161 hours, and Bournemouth, which lost 782 hours.
SCAS officers said the QAH is more “challenging” than other hospitals. Still, they are working closely with the hospital to address the “difficult” situation.
Cllr Patricia Stallard said that the over 5,000 hours lost in just one month is simply “unacceptable in any form”.
The South West, South East and South North Nodes of the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) cover the county of Hampshire, conveying patients to Hampshire Hospitals, Portsmouth and Southampton, but also on occasion to Bournemouth, Poole and Frimley.
In 2022, a CQC warning notice was published following an inspection of the SCAS. The notice rated the organisation as inadequate, with particular concerns regarding its leadership and safety culture.
Over the last two years, SCAS has remained in the Recovery Support Programme and undergone its internal improvement programme.
During that time, a new chief executive was recruited, along with a number of other changes at the executive level. A formal executive review is now underway.
However, they will remain in the NHS Recovery Support Programme, which focuses on delivering longer-term strategic and cultural change across the organisation to better respond to the ongoing financial and operational reality in the NHS.