North East Ambulance Service bosses warned that, though ambulance handover delays had improved in January, they will continue to work hard to avoid the issue returning next winter.
NEAS' chief executive Helen Ray told the organisation's board that the new NHS Integrated Care System - now led by recently appointed chief exec Sam Allen - was working with the service and hospital trusts around the region to ensure systems are in place to prevent "significant problems" returning.
And medical director Dr Matthew Beattie explained that the improvements seen in January were largely due to a fall in demand from patients.
