Monday, 13 November 2023

Campaign Reply: Supporting ambulances and cutting hospital wait times

I recognise that ambulance services are strained.

Recovering urgent and emergency care services is a key priority for the Government, and a plan is being implemented to reduce category two response times to an average of 30 minutes in 2024 and ensure the NHS makes further progress towards pre-pandemic waiting times in 2025.

The plan is being supported by the delivery of 800 new ambulances - including 100 specialist mental health vehicles – and 5,000 more hospital beds backed by £1 billion funding. In addition, the Government is aiming to ensure that Same Day Emergency Care Services are put in place across every hospital with a major emergency department.

Action is also being taken to reduce the time it takes for ambulance handovers once patients reach hospital. Waiting times for transferring ambulance patients to A&E will be reduced as facilities are upgraded and the NHS increases capacity by at least 7,000 general and acute beds. 

In addition, the Government is providing £250 million to enable the NHS to buy up beds in the community, so that thousands of patients can be safely discharged from hospital. This follows £500 million that was invested to support Trusts last year.

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