East Midlands Ambulance Service: 'Frustration' at A&E handover delays

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) crew members said delays have led to them leaving long after their shifts have finished

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) says its staff have been forced to wait hours before handing over patients to hospital staff in Leicester.

Leicester Royal Infirmary's A&E department's handover target time is 15 minutes, but in August, 40% of patients were delayed for longer.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has apologised to patients.

Paramedic Helen Dagley said she had waited two hours over her shift to hand over.

'Stressful situations'

"We can't go anywhere, because we're still waiting to hand over the patient, so that's frustrating," she said.

"It's not as quick as you'd like it to be."

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said in a statement: "Leicester's Hospitals and East Midlands Ambulance Service want to apologise to any patient who has experienced a delay after being brought to the Royal Infirmary by ambulance.

"We would also like to apologise to staff in both organisations for the pressure and stressful situations they have been placed under."

A number of steps will be undertaken over the next eight weeks to improve the situation, the trust added.