Revealed: All but three ICSs fall behind financial plans
A total of 39 of the 42 integrated care systems have fallen behind their financial plans, new figures reveal.
Trust warns of ‘catastrophic’ delays as NHSE provides £10m cash boost
An ambulance trust has been given an extra £10m by NHS England to cover the cost of A&E handover delays that took place in the first six months of 2024-25.
Ambulance response time hits two-year low
Ambulance response times for incidents including elderly people falling rose to the highest level in two years in November.
NHS enters winter with ambulance delays almost double those in 2023
The time spent by ambulances stuck outside A&Es waiting to hand over patients has nearly doubled since last year, the first NHS “winter situation report” has revealed.
Ambulance response times soar
Ambulance trusts are coming under severe pressure this week with typical waits reaching two hours for category 2 calls in the West Midlands this morning.
ICS warned its deficit could surge past £200m
One of the country’s most financially challenged systems faces a £242m deficit, nearly three times as high as its target, an external report has said.
Alert over steep rise in handover delays
An ambulance trust is warning that delays handing patients over to hospitals have “significantly deteriorated” in the past two months, with one waiting nearly 20 hours.
Ambulance trusts suffer as calls jump 13% in London
Ambulance trusts are battling an extremely tough October with calls in one region up by 13 per cent year-on-year and others struggling with hospital handovers.
Ambulance services hit crucial target
Ambulances reached some of the most seriously ill people within an average of 30 minutes last month – meeting a key NHS England target for the first time in more than a year.
NHSE admits ‘urgent’ ambulance target will be missed in capital
NHS England has agreed ambulance trusts can meet ‘realistic’ response times for ‘urgent’ ambulance calls including some heart attacks and stroke this winter, citing ‘service pressures, resources and demand’.
Trust refuses to share full data with ICBs, citing ‘counter terrorism’ concerns
An ambulance trust with some of England’s worst handover delays has refused to share some patient data with local partners on the grounds the information relates to “counter terrorism and other sensitive” details.
Five trusts join forces on AI and procurement
Five ambulance service trusts are forming a group, which will include joint projects on artificial intelligence, and a potential move to standardisation and joint procurement of vehicles.
Four regions still without extra ambulances promised by NHSE
Four regions that successfully bid for dedicated ambulances for mental health patients are still without the specialist vehicles, despite growing concerns the NHS is unable to respond to people in crisis.
Trust’s ‘leadership behaviour’ attacked by six ICBs
Six integrated care board chiefs in the Midlands have written to an ambulance trust over a “pattern of behaviour” they claim its leadership team has displayed since its Care Quality Commission rating was downgraded.
Trust sets £20m ultimatum for ICBs to fund CQC requirements
An ambulance trust is preparing to ask its commissioners for an extra £20m – and is planning to withdraw some staff seconded to work at A&Es – after the Care Quality Commission ordered it to improve response times.
Trust loses ‘outstanding’ rating
An ambulance trust rated “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission since 2019 has lost the top-tier rating.
Outside CEOs bring ‘positive challenge’ to sector, says review author
The senior leader who carried out a cultural review of the ambulance sector has said bringing in chief executives from outside has “shone a different light” on the service, although she stressed it was not a “silver bullet”.
Waiting times focus ‘overshadows misconduct’, finds NHSE review
Ambulance trusts have often prioritised capacity and response times over dealing with cases of misconduct, a review of culture in the sector for NHS England has found.
Trust loses national emergency contract after 13 years
A key part of the NHS’s national emergency response system has been handed to a new trust to run for the next five years.
Carbon Copy: Why the NHS still buys diesel ambulances
The ideas, policies and challenges at the heart of the NHS goal for net zero emissions, from HSJ sustainability correspondent Zoe Tidman.