The latest sit rep data shows the average handover time last week (34:32) was almost 3 minutes faster than the week previous (37:22) and an improvement on the same point last year (35:04).
The improvement came despite 94,551 ambulance handovers – higher than the busiest week last year (94,493 w/e 29 December 2024) and up almost 1,000 on the week previous and over 3,250 more than the same week last year.
The data came came almost eight months since the publication of the NHS' urgent and emergency care plan, which focused on keeping more ambulances on the road and improving patient flow through hospitals.
Pressure remains high on hospitals despite a drop in flu rates, however, with an average of 1,100 adult beds closed or occupied each day last week due to norovirus.
There was an average of 950 patients in hospital each day last week with the bug – 127 more than the week previous and nearing the peak of cases in February last year (961 w/e 2 February 2025).
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘This winter has pushed the NHS hard, but staff are delivering. Ambulances are handing over faster, delays are coming down and flu is taking up fewer hospital beds than last year, even with demand running at near-record levels. That's real progress, driven by the dedication of frontline staff and better preparation than ever before.
‘We backed that effort with £450m for urgent and emergency care, 500 new ambulances on the road and millions of vaccinations delivered this winter for flu, Covid and RSV, keeping people protected and out of hospital.
‘Winter pressures haven't gone away, but the NHS is meeting them head on.'
Rory Deighton, acute and community care director, speaking on behalf of NHS Providers and the NHS Confederation, said the improvements in ambulance handover times suggested extensive planning ahead of winter and the extraordinary effort of staff was resulting in more timely care.
Deighton warned there was a ‘long way to go' to hit key NHS' performance targets, however, and highlighted ongoing challenges, including ‘workforce pressures, constrained finances and the potential for yet more industrial action'.
