Latest data shows that among hospital trusts reporting at least 500 ambulance arrivals last week, the highest proportion of patients waiting more than an hour to be handed over was 54% at University Hospitals Bristol & Weston (360 out of 666 patients). It comes as more data shows that one in five ambulance patients in England waited more than an hour to be handed to A&E teams last week, as hospitals continue to struggle with bed shortages and a surge in winter viruses.
The figure is down from nearly one in four the previous week, partly due to industrial action by ambulance workers on December 21. On the day of the strike, the proportion of patients waiting over an hour was 14%, or around one in seven, compared with an average across the week of 20%.
But this is still well above the 4% for the equivalent week last year and 3% in 2020. Ambulance services reported receiving fewer calls than normal during the strike, with some advising the public to dial 999 only if there was a risk to life or if somebody was seriously ill or injured.
