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| Ambulance A&E delays affect one in eight | Ambulance A&E delays affect one in eight |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Over one in eight patients rushed to hospital in an ambulance this winter has faced a delay of over 30 minutes on arrival, an analysis by the BBC shows. | Over one in eight patients rushed to hospital in an ambulance this winter has faced a delay of over 30 minutes on arrival, an analysis by the BBC shows. |
| Patients are meant to be handed over to staff within 15 minutes, but over 75,000 have waited at least twice as long as that in England | Patients are meant to be handed over to staff within 15 minutes, but over 75,000 have waited at least twice as long as that in England |
| Some of the worst waits have lasted up to five hours, ambulance crews said. | Some of the worst waits have lasted up to five hours, ambulance crews said. |
| It comes as Prime Minister Theresa May has apologised for the problems in the NHS. | It comes as Prime Minister Theresa May has apologised for the problems in the NHS. |
| This week NHS bosses announced the cancellation of tens of thousands of non-urgent operations in an attempt to ease the pressure on hospitals. | This week NHS bosses announced the cancellation of tens of thousands of non-urgent operations in an attempt to ease the pressure on hospitals. |
| Mrs May said: "I know it's difficult, I know it's frustrating, I know it's disappointing for people, and I apologise." | Mrs May said: "I know it's difficult, I know it's frustrating, I know it's disappointing for people, and I apologise." |
| The analysis of handover delays by the BBC is based on official NHS figures for 20 November to 31 December. | The analysis of handover delays by the BBC is based on official NHS figures for 20 November to 31 December. |
| They happen when A&E staff are not available to take care of patients brought in. | They happen when A&E staff are not available to take care of patients brought in. |
| Some have to wait in the back of ambulances, although many end up in waiting areas and side rooms before nurses and doctors become available. | Some have to wait in the back of ambulances, although many end up in waiting areas and side rooms before nurses and doctors become available. |
| The analysis shows: | |
| Ged Blezard, director of operations of the North West Ambulance Service, said the delays were causing a "number of problems" and was compromising the safety of patients. | Ged Blezard, director of operations of the North West Ambulance Service, said the delays were causing a "number of problems" and was compromising the safety of patients. |
| "We are nursing patients in hospital corridors - and that is affecting our ability to respond to patients in the community. It is happening on a daily basis," he added. | "We are nursing patients in hospital corridors - and that is affecting our ability to respond to patients in the community. It is happening on a daily basis," he added. |
| He said there were sometimes between 12 and 15 ambulances queuing outside A&E units at any one time with some of the longest delays last four or five hours. | He said there were sometimes between 12 and 15 ambulances queuing outside A&E units at any one time with some of the longest delays last four or five hours. |
| The five worst hospital trusts for delays (Proportion delayed over 30 minutes) | The five worst hospital trusts for delays (Proportion delayed over 30 minutes) |
| Labour shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the figures showed the "shocking scale of the crisis in the NHS" and said ministers should be ashamed that patients had been "left languishing" like this. | Labour shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the figures showed the "shocking scale of the crisis in the NHS" and said ministers should be ashamed that patients had been "left languishing" like this. |
| Saffron Cordery, of NHS Providers, which represents hospital managers, said the delays showed the "strain" the system was under. | Saffron Cordery, of NHS Providers, which represents hospital managers, said the delays showed the "strain" the system was under. |
| "Despite planning more meticulously than ever before, the level of demand for services means severe pressures remain," she said. | "Despite planning more meticulously than ever before, the level of demand for services means severe pressures remain," she said. |
| If you can't see the NHS Tracker, click or tap here. | If you can't see the NHS Tracker, click or tap here. |
| Problems have also been reported in other parts of the UK. | Problems have also been reported in other parts of the UK. |
| The Welsh government said the health service was facing "significant pressure" and the chief executive of the NHS in Wales apologised to patients whose operations had been postponed. | The Welsh government said the health service was facing "significant pressure" and the chief executive of the NHS in Wales apologised to patients whose operations had been postponed. |
| Meanwhile, in Scotland there has been a 20% jump in A&E attendances compared with the previous year, prompting an increase in patients waiting more than four hours, and in Northern Ireland the Antrim Area Hospital has had to bring in St John Ambulance volunteers to help with a surge in demand. | Meanwhile, in Scotland there has been a 20% jump in A&E attendances compared with the previous year, prompting an increase in patients waiting more than four hours, and in Northern Ireland the Antrim Area Hospital has had to bring in St John Ambulance volunteers to help with a surge in demand. |
| Have you had to wait in an ambulance before being admitted to A&E? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you had to wait in an ambulance before being admitted to A&E? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or comment here: | Or comment here: |