NHS trust introduces new measures to shorten A&E wait times

The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust has launched new procedures to cut A&E waiting times, focusing on faster ambulance handovers, improved patient flow, and prioritizing vulnerable adults to ensure quicker access to care and smoother hospital transfers.

Healthcare administrators in Staffordshire have introduced a series of measures at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust aimed at addressing long ambulance handover durations and prolonged waiting times in Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments. The program commenced at the end of March through a dedicated "change week," during which staff adopted updated procedures designed to improve patient flow efficiency.

Implemented Actions

• Enhanced frailty assessments for patients identified as vulnerable.
• Prioritization of high-risk adults for earlier treatment by the vulnerable adults specialist team.
• Optimization of patient pathways to improve movement from admission to discharge.

The trust emphasized that research demonstrates the most effective way to reduce persistent A&E delays is by increasing capacity through faster patient transfers within the hospital system.

Performance and Challenges

In February, ambulance handovers averaged one hour and fifteen minutes. Although this was an improvement from the previous September, it remained above the NHS target of 45 minutes. Chief Operating Officer Katy Thorpe acknowledged that initial implementation faced some challenges but confirmed that early adjustments led to noticeable improvements. The revised frailty assessments now ensure that vulnerable adults with high priority scores are transferred from the emergency department to specialist teams earlier in their care pathway. Thorpe highlighted that improving flow at every stage—from patient arrival to internal transfer—is key to reducing delays.

Data and Management Insights

Thorpe stated that internal data indicate patient flow management is crucial for both ambulance handovers and overall time spent in A&E. The trust plans to present further findings from these new procedures to its board in June. Chief Executive Simon Constable added that delays are primarily caused by internal flow rather than patient numbers arriving at the department. He compared current performance with the previous year, noting that seven critical incidents were declared last year, compared with two during the recent winter period. Constable remarked that consistent implementation of correct processes demonstrates the trust’s capacity for improvement, although challenges remain.

Regional Context

A representative from West Midlands Ambulance Service noted that regional handover delays accounted for roughly one-third of all delays reported across England. To address these delays, the service has increased staffing in control rooms and deployed additional ambulances and personnel on the roads.

Reporting

The information was collected by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which monitors public service organizations. Ongoing updates can be accessed through BBC Stoke & Staffordshire across multiple platforms including BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Sources:

• BBC News
• The Guardian
• Staffordshire Live
• New measures at NHS trust to reduce A&E waits