Ambulance lost hours remain 'significant challenge' in West Midlands

Hours lost by ambulances while stuck outside West Midlands hospitals remain a “significant challenge” for NHS bosses.

Members of the Birmingham and Solihull and Black Country NHS Joint ICB Cluster Board will discuss the issue when it meets next week.

A report to the board said long waits, handover delays and limited alternatives to A&E continue to have an impact on ambulance services in the region.

Board chair Danielle Oum said she has met with West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) bosses to discuss how the organisations work together and what can be done to address issues.

Data for the Black Country showed handovers over 15 minutes increased from 6,162 in June to 6,902 in July.

Royal Wolverhampton Trust was the worst performing with handover delays amounting to 2,683 hours lost, followed by Dudley with 2,328 hours lost.

Walsall was the best performing trust with 300 hours lost while Sandwell lost 1,491 hours.

In her chair’s report to the Board, Danielle Oum said: “Ambulance staff continue to face significant pressures from long waits, handover delays and limited alternatives to A&E, and these challenges are fully recognised by NHS leaders across our footprint.

“Crews have a unique front-line perspective on where the health and care system is working well and where improvements are needed.

“In particular, they see first-hand the variation in access to community-based alternatives to A&E, such as urgent community response, falls services, same-day emergency care and mental health support.

“Colleagues within the ICB are working with partners across the West Midlands to develop a more consistent regional approach, and WMAS staff and leaders will play an important role in shaping future community and urgent care services.

“Our ambition is not simply to shift pressure elsewhere in the system, but to work together to design better pathways that improve patient experience, reduce avoidable hospital attendances and support crews to deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time

“I recently met with WMAS Chair Professor Ian Cumming OBE to discuss the strong strategic alignment between our organisations and the important role WMAS will play in the future development of community services.

“I was encouraged to hear that response performance is improving, although handover delays and associated lost hours continue to present a significant challenge.

“Addressing these delays is a key objective of emerging service models.”

She added: “On behalf of our Board, I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to WMAS colleagues for their exceptional response to the recent fires across our region, and especially to those involved in responding to the fires in Stourbridge.”