Kent hospital has fastest ambulance handover times

Ambulances at Medway hospital wait on average 12 minutes to discharge patients

A Kent hospital has recorded the shortest ambulance handover times in England this summer, according to NHS data.

Medway Maritime hospital in Gillingham had an average ambulance handover time of just over 12 minutes between April and July.

Reducing ambulance handovers is a key priority for NHS England with the national average more than 31 minutes.

The hospital said the success was despite "more patients attending the emergency department than last year".

In the latest data published by NHS England (NHSE), Medway Maritime was the best performing hospital trust in the country, with an average ambulance handover time of 12 minutes and 19 seconds.

The top 10 performing hospital trusts for ambulance handovers include Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, with a recorded average handover time of 15 minutes, 23 seconds, and Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals in Surrey at 16 minutes, 43 seconds.

NHSE began publishing trusts’ handover times outside of winter months for the first time this year, saying it recognised a need to address the knock-on effects of longer ambulance response times.

'Some level of harm'

The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives said that over eight in 10 patients whose handover was delayed beyond 60 minutes "potentially experienced some level of harm".

Nick Sinclair, chief operating officer for Medway NHS Foundation Trust said quick handovers were "vital, so that patients can get the care and treatment they need sooner and so that ambulances can get back on the road quickly to help others".

NHSE said last week that the health service was dealing with its busiest ever summer, with a record 4.6m accident and emergency attendances.

Mr Sinclair said he was "proud of the tremendous efforts by hospital and ambulance staff to make sure patients are quickly and safely handed over" to emergency department teams.

He said: “Now more than three quarters of patients are seen, treated and discharged or admitted within four hours.

"This is despite sustained pressure on the hospital with more patients attending the emergency department than last year.”