Ambulance crews and A&E teams have reduced handover delays by more than seven minutes this winter, even as they conveyed the highest number of patients to hospital in five years.
Official figures show 1,234,731 patients were handed over to A&Es by ambulances so far this winter, the most since 2021/22 and 51,989 more than the same period last year.
Despite rising admissions, combined ambulance and A&E handover times were 7 minutes and 22 seconds quicker last week (28:14) than the same week a year earlier (35:36). The number of handovers taking longer than 30 minutes fell by 21.9% compared with that week last year.
Hospital cases of norovirus fell slightly to 924 from 1,012 the previous week. Around 18.8 million flu vaccinations have been delivered this season, and occupied hospital beds continue to decline to 682 this week.
NHS National Medical Director Professor Meghana Pandit said the improvements reflect the hard work of staff managing growing demand. She highlighted faster ambulance transfers, closer working between crews and A&E staff to speed treatment, and the role of vaccination and greater use of community services in easing pressure on hospitals.
Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth welcomed the faster urgent care as the service moves toward spring, crediting NHS staff and government measures such as expanded GP access, stronger vaccine uptake and new technology that help people stay well at home. She added that further efforts are planned to sustain and build on these gains.
Both leaders urged continued teamwork across services and the public to maintain improvements through the remainder of winter.
