Ambulance handover times remain high across Lincolnshire and Newark
East Midlands ambulances recorded the second longest waits on record last month
Ambulance handover times across Lincolnshire and Newark remain high with the service that covers the region seeing the second longest waits on record last month.
November saw an average of 754 hours lost every day to such waits.
More than 22 thousand hours were spent stuck outside hospitals
We've spoken to Director of Operations with East Midlands ambulance service Ben Holdaway about the situation.
He told us often people are calling for an ambulance when there may be a better alternative form of treatment.
Look at alternatives before 999 if it isn't an emergency
He says: "We do ask people to call if it is a life threatening emergency."
"But look at alternatives before 999 if it isn't an emergency."
"For example your pharmacy or ringing NHS 111 for more of the urgent care needs."
"We're working with the systems to ensure that alternative referral routes are available - people are using the right pathway when looking for alternatives other than 999."
It's about how the system works together to improve all aspects of the health system
"It's really about working with the system - a whole system approach to it."
"What we need to see is improvement in those lost hours so we can respond to patients quicker and improve the working lives of our staff who are working really hard under these very difficult situations."
"It's not a hospital issue per se or an ambulance issue it's about how the system works together to improve all aspects of the health system."
"That will enable better flow to improve referral pathways so patients in the system will be getting better access to pathways"