Huge reduction in patients facing long ambulance handover waits at NNUH

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) has, for a second month, continued to improve ambulance handover performance resulting in fewer patients waiting for long periods to be handed over from ambulances to the A&E department.

During May, 16 patients waited over 60 minutes, compared to 109 patients who waited over 60 minutes in April. 102 of those in April were in the first half of the month, during which time emergency care nationally was under intense pressure, with a significant increase in very sick patients, particularly in older age groups. At NNUH there was a 10% increase in the number of patients over 85 years old who were admitted in this period.

The NNUH A&E department is the busiest A&E served by the East of England Ambulance Service Trust. It receives approximately 10% of the total emergency ambulance arrivals for the whole region (approximately 750 a week).

During May, there were 3343 ambulance arrivals at NNUH and the average handover time was 16.55 minutes. This compares to 3029 ambulance arrivals in April when the average handover time was 23:38 minutes.

Professor Krishna Sethia, Medical Director, said: “This improved performance is down to the hard work of our front line staff and continued collaborative working with the new Clinical Commissioning Groups as well as our health and social care partners in Norfolk. Through Operation Domino, we will continue to work towards reducing handover delays for our patients.”

Senior Matron of A&E, Kirsty Rowden, said: “I would like to thank my amazing team for their hard work and commitment. By looking at new ways of working, they have all stepped up to the challenge to bring about these improvements whilst delivering care and compassion to our patients and their families, when they need it the most.”

NNUH is currently achieving 94.8% against the 95% target to see patients in A&E within four hours and expects to meet the target for the quarter ending 30th June 2013.