AQW 20417/22-27


Mrs Diane Dodds
Democratic Unionist Party
Upper Bann


Tabled Date: 13/01/2025
Answered On Date: 21/01/2025
Priority Written: Yes


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the average; and (ii) the longest ambulance handover times since 1 December 2024, broken down by hospital.


Answer:
Table 1, shows ambulance handover performance information, for the month of December 2024, broken down per HSC Trust.
Table 1
Trust Area
Total Attendances
Total Handovers Over 15mins
Total Handovers over 60mins
Average Handover Time (Minutes)
Average Handover Time
(Hours)
Belfast
2,157
2,018
1,031
93
1hr 33mins
Northern
1,837
1,767
973
145
2hrs 25mins
South Eastern
1,116
1,052
624
180
3hrs
Southern
1,606
1,491
656
110
1hr 50mins
Western
1,794
1,710
679
65
1hr 5mins
Regional
8,510
8,038
3,963
118
1 hr 58 mins
Table 2, shows ambulance handover performance for each HSC Trust hospital site, for the December 2024 period.
Hospital Attended
Total Attendances
Total Handovers Over 15mins
Total Handovers over 60mins
Average Handover Time (Minutes)
Average Handover Time (Hours)
Mater
368
331
119
71
1hr 12 mins
Royal Group
1,789
1,687
912
100
1hr 42 mins
Antrim Area
1,345
1,292
659
141
2hrs 18mins
Causeway
492
475
314
156
2 hrs 36mins
Ulster
1,116
1,052
624
180
3hrs
Craigavon Area
1,120
1,030
504
131
2hrs 12 mins
Daisy hill
486
461
152
62
1 hr 2 mins
Altnagelvin
1,171
1,123
474
68
1 hr 6 mins
South West
623
587
205
60
1 hr
Type 1 ED Total
8,510
8,038
3,963
108
1 hr 48 mins
Table 2
Table 3, shows the longest and average hospital handover times, per acute site for the period 1st December 2024 to 13th January 2025.
Table 3
Hospital
Average Handover Time
Longest Handover Time
Belfast City
00:31:37
04:05:43
Mater
01:21:50
16:09:28
RBSC
00:22:08
01:17:34
Royal Group
01:54:54
14:48:38
Antrim Area
02:17:13
25:15:05
Causeway
02:47:54
18:59:39
Downe
00:20:35
00:42:53
Lagan Valley
00:29:48
03:18:46
Ulster
03:14:16
23:36:16
Craigavon Area
02:11:03
18:42:00
Daisy hill
01:03:01
06:01:11
Altnagelvin
01:14:05
12:41:07
South West
00:58:03
09:34:00
Reducing ambulance handover delays outside emergency departments has been a key priority due to the impact this has on NIAS’s capacity to respond to calls in the community. These risks were also articulated in the ‘Getting It Right First Time’ (GIRFT) Review of Emergency Medicine for Northern Ireland commissioned by the Department.
Ambulance handover delays are monitored on a daily basis, including average delays and longest delays at each hospital. This information is circulated widely within the HSC system including to the Trust Chief Executives.
NIAS has implemented a range of initiatives to improve ambulance response times. The introduction of an Integrated Clinical Hub has placed senior clinicians within NIAS’s control centre who are able to provide clinical triage to improve safety and refer patients to alternative pathways through the use of ‘Hear & Treat’ and ‘See & Treat’ pathways, effectively reducing unnecessary hospital conveyances. Additionally, the introduction of mental health practitioners within the control room has resulted in a reduction in ED attendances for patients presenting with mental health crises. Collaboration with HSC Trusts, including the Hospital at Home initiative, have further supported community-based care by minimising hospital admissions and ensuring high-quality care delivery closer to patients' homes.