Patients in Yorkshire face over an hour of delays after arriving by ambulance, raising serious safety concerns for the healthcare system.
Yorkshire: It’s been a tough time for patients arriving by ambulance. Many are stuck waiting over an hour just to get into the hospital. Can you believe that? The latest figures show that about a third of these patients are facing delays. National guidelines say they should be handed over in just 15 minutes.
Things are getting worse across England too. A health think tank warns that these delays are a real safety risk. They’re urging the government to come up with a long-term plan to fix this. Last week, 21% of handovers took longer than an hour, which is a big jump from previous weeks.
In Yorkshire, some hospitals are seeing even worse numbers. For example, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust reported that 49% of handovers took over an hour. That’s just crazy! Meanwhile, Sheffield Children’s Hospital is doing better, with 81% of handovers happening in under 15 minutes.
Experts are really worried about these delays. Danielle Jefferies from The King’s Fund says it’s a safety concern, especially for the sickest patients. Waiting for so long can be scary for them. Plus, it’s frustrating for NHS staff who can’t respond to other emergencies while they wait.
The College of Paramedics is also sounding the alarm. They’re concerned this winter will be tough for both patients and paramedics. They’re calling for more government investment to tackle these issues. An NHS spokesperson admitted there’s still a lot to do to cut down on these long waits.
It’s clear that everyone is feeling the pressure. Emergency services are working hard to manage the situation, but it’s a tough road ahead.
