Ambulances handed over patients more than two minutes faster in January despite seeing the busiest January since before COVID-19.
Provisional figures show 420,324 ambulance handovers with known times in January, the highest total for the month since 2020 and a 5.2% rise on 399,415 in January last year. The average handover time in January was 37:16, more than two minutes quicker than January 2025 (39:27). Last week’s average handover was almost five minutes (4:42) faster than the same week last year.
NHS leaders say the improvement amid high demand reflects early winter planning focused on keeping more ambulances on the road and improving patient flow through hospitals.
Winter viruses continue to add pressure: on average last week more than 1,000 (1,093) adult beds were closed or unavailable each day due to norovirus, and an average of 904 patients were in hospital with the bug each day. NHS 111 received almost 4,000 more calls (381,479) compared with the same week last year (377,601).
Flu rates have fallen since last month’s peak, but on average last week nearly 1,500 (1,491) patients were in hospital with flu and an average of 630 patients were in hospital with COVID-19 each day.
Vaccination data show 18.8 million flu vaccines have been delivered since the autumn/winter campaign began — about half a million more than at the same point last year, helping reduce severe illness and hospital admissions.
On 2 February 2026 the government announced that from April the RSV vaccine will be offered to additional groups most vulnerable to severe outcomes: adults aged 80 and over and all residents in care homes for older adults. People turning 75, those aged 75–79, and pregnant women can come forward now for their jab.
NHS National Medical Director Professor Meghana Pandit said: “Early NHS preparation and planning for winter is paying off for patients. Patients are being handed over from ambulances quicker, even amid high demand – with more handovers last month than any January since before the pandemic. Higher vaccination rates are helping to limit the impact of winter viruses like flu, though cases of the vomiting bug are still high in hospitals, which staff are working extremely hard to keep under control. Vaccinations remain the best protection available from seasonal viruses, so if you are eligible for your flu, COVID-19 or RSV jab please come forward.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “By planning for winter earlier than ever before, we’re now seeing real improvements in urgent and emergency care. Ambulance response times and handovers are faster, the longest A&E delays are falling compared to last year, and flu is taking up fewer hospital beds. We backed this with £450 million for urgent and emergency care, 500 new ambulances on the road, and millions of flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations to keep people well and out of hospital. Winter pressures haven’t disappeared, but we’re learning from this season to strengthen our response further and break the cycle of struggle the NHS faces each winter.”
