Ambulance Delays Surge in East Midlands, Leaving Patients Waiting

More than 9,000 patients across the East Midlands experienced delays exceeding 45 minutes for ambulance handovers to Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments in October 2025. This alarming statistic emerged during a board meeting of the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) on November 4, highlighting the increasing strain on ambulance services in the region.

The average handover time has shown a troubling upward trend. In July, the average waited 31 minutes and 37 seconds, which escalated to 35 minutes and 35 seconds in August and 33 minutes and 39 seconds in September. This situation has prompted acute hospital trusts to implement a 45-minute ambulance handover scheme since late 2024, aimed at improving the responsiveness of ambulance crews to emergencies. The scheme began at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham in December 2024, followed by Royal Derby Hospital in January 2025, and later at Grimsby Hospital and Scunthorpe General Hospital in February 2025, before being rolled out in Leicester in March.

The month-on-month increase in the number of patients waiting over 45 minutes has raised concerns. The figure rose from 6,500 in September to the current 9,000, indicating a significant escalation of the issue. On October 28, a worrying scene unfolded outside QMC, where 26 ambulances were observed queuing to deliver patients.

During the meeting, John Kelly, a non-executive director, expressed frustration over the ongoing situation, stating, “It feels like we have this conversation nearly every month.” He noted the increasing pressure faced by the executive team to collaborate with acute trusts before the winter months exacerbate the situation further. Kelly emphasized the need for tangible changes in the coming months.

In response, EMAS chief executive Richard Henderson acknowledged that while some elements of the trust’s winter plan are effective, further measures would be needed. He mentioned that QMC recorded the highest number of ambulance delays in September, with over 2,700 hours lost and 32 percent of handovers exceeding 45 minutes. Overall, nearly 4,400 ambulance handovers took more than an hour, with QMC contributing 1,066 delays, followed by Royal Derby Hospital with 769 and Leicester Royal Infirmary at 635.

The board meeting also addressed the broader implications of these delays. Jackie Jones, another non-executive director, inquired whether recent incidents had caused this sudden spike in delays or if such problems were expected to persist throughout the winter. Henderson responded that he did not anticipate these delays to be a permanent issue, stating, “There are different reasons at different hospitals.” He recognized that the cumulative effect leads to ambulance vehicles queuing, which hampers the capacity to respond to patients in need.

Furthermore, Oliver Newbould, an associate non-executive director, raised concerns about the impact of delays on patients awaiting ambulances at home. Keeley Sheldon, the director of quality, assured the board that they are closely monitoring care standards and patient safety during these delays.

As the situation unfolds, Henderson highlighted that the Midlands faces unique challenges regarding ambulance handover delays. He stressed the importance of improving response times within the larger acute hospital trusts to avoid overwhelming smaller facilities with unplanned demand.

The growing number of patients waiting for ambulance transfers raises critical questions about the efficiency and responsiveness of emergency services in the East Midlands. As winter approaches, the pressure on healthcare systems is expected to intensify, necessitating urgent action from all stakeholders involved.