Blackpool Victoria Hospital's A&E department handover times are up 450 per cent

The length of time paramedics are left waiting at Blackpool Victoria Hospital's A&E department has soared by 450 per cent since 2013/14, a Freedom of Information request by the BBC showed yesterday.
Blackpool Victoria HospitalBlackpool Victoria Hospital
Blackpool Victoria Hospital

It comes after The Gazette revealed in September how breaches of handover times – how long it takes a patient to be placed under the care of hospital staff – were reported 145 times this year, compared to just two last year.

The issue has been reflected nationally as patient numbers increase, with all but one ambulance trust reporting an increase – with the overall figure doubling in the past two years.

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A statement from the North West Ambulance Service said: “We are seeing more and more people in need of our services, especially for Red incidents for patients with serious and life-threatening conditions.

“This contributes to additional activity at hospital emergency departments. During busy periods this can unfortunately result in ambulance crews having to wait longer to hand over patients into the care of hospital staff before they can be clear to respond to other emergencies.”

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