Ambulance handovers were more than two minutes faster on average in January, despite it being the busiest January since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Provisional NHS figures show 420,324 ambulance handovers with known times in January — the highest January total since 2020 and a 5.2% increase on 399,415 in January last year. The average handover time in January was 37 minutes 16 seconds, compared with 39 minutes 27 seconds in January 2025. In the most recent week, the average handover was about 4 minutes 42 seconds faster than the same week a year earlier.
NHS leaders attribute the improvement to earlier and more focused winter planning aimed at keeping more ambulances on the road and improving patient flow through hospitals. That planning included extra funding, operational changes and a push to reduce delays at emergency departments.
Winter viruses continue to place pressure on services. Last week, an average of 1,093 adult beds were closed or unavailable each day because of norovirus, and about 904 patients were in hospital with the virus each day. NHS 111 handled nearly 4,000 more calls last week than the same week last year — 381,479 calls versus 377,601.
Flu activity has eased from last month’s peak, but hospital pressure from respiratory illnesses remains. On average last week there were 1,491 patients in hospital with flu and about 630 patients in hospital with COVID-19 each day.
Vaccination efforts are helping to reduce severe illness: 18.8 million flu vaccines have been delivered since the autumn/winter campaign began, roughly half a million more than at the same point last year. Increased uptake of flu, COVID-19 and other seasonal vaccines is cited as a key factor in keeping more people out of hospital.
On 2 February 2026 the government announced plans to widen access to the RSV vaccine from April. The rollout will include adults aged 80 and over and all residents in care homes for older adults. People turning 75 this year, those aged 75–79, and pregnant women are already eligible and can receive the jab now.
NHS officials say the combination of earlier preparation, targeted investments and higher vaccine uptake is helping to ease pressure on urgent and emergency care, even though winter challenges remain. Officials also point to extra funding and resources introduced this season — including £450 million for urgent and emergency care, 500 new ambulances on the road, and expanded vaccination programmes — as part of the response to seasonal demand.
While the improvements are welcomed, health leaders stress that winter pressures have not gone away and that continued vaccination and adherence to public health advice are important to protect the most vulnerable and reduce strain on services.
