A recent report has highlighted a concerning trend in ambulance handover performance in Northern Ireland, with a significant number of patients at risk of harm due to delays. The report, conducted by the comptroller and auditor general, revealed that approximately 3,800 patients may have been subjected to severe harm last year because of these delays. Furthermore, more than 36,000 patients could have experienced some form of harm, with delayed handovers costing around £50 million over the past five years.
The Department of Health has welcomed the report and stated that they will carefully consider its recommendations. The performance of moving a patient from an ambulance into an emergency department (ED) for medical attention was a key focus of the report. It noted that the longest ambulance handover time in December 2024 was 23 hours, significantly exceeding the target of 15 minutes for all handovers. This target has been consistently missed since 2019, with only 7% of Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) handovers meeting the goal in the past two years.
The report also highlighted a concerning increase in reliance on private ambulances in Northern Ireland, which remain unregulated. The use of private ambulances for emergency purposes has surged by 5,000% over the past five years, with over 1,000 instances recorded last year at a cost of £3.6 million. The delay in ambulance handovers was attributed to various challenges and pressures in the health service, including limited bed space in hospitals and delays in discharging patients.
Recommendations from the report emphasized the need for urgent measures to improve ambulance handovers, better oversight and regulation of the private ambulance sector, and efforts to reduce sickness absence rates within NIAS. The report underscored the importance of collaboration between NIAS, health trusts, and the Department of Health to address these issues and ensure better patient outcomes. Overall, the report highlighted the significant challenges facing the health and social care services in Northern Ireland and the need for sustained long-term efforts to address these issues effectively
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