AACE report reveals handover delays causing significant harm to patients

The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) earlier this week published a report following a structured clinical review of handover delays at emergency departments across England.

The report reveals the extent of potential hard that is being caused to patients when they must wait in the back of ambulances or in corridors before they are transferred into the care of the hospital.

Co-ordinated by AACE, the impact assessment was undertaken in all ten English NHS ambulance services which reviewed cases from one single day in January 2021, where handovers exceeded one hour.

AACE Managing Director, Martin Flaherty OBE QAM, said: “The causes of these delays are multifactorial and reflect the pressures in local health systems, as well as the availability of health and social care packages which greatly impacts on patient flow.

“We are clear that the problem is a symptom of system pressures and will require a whole system approach to resolve it once and for all.”

The report is available at: https://aace.org.uk/news/handover-harm/

Wednesday 17 November 2021