Domesday Live

Why do ambulances take so long to arrive?

Ambulances are slow to reach patients mainly because they get stuck outside hospitals. When A&E is full, crews cannot hand patients over, so they are not free to answer the next call. A busier service with too few crews and call handlers makes it worse.

Why it happens

• Handover delays at hospitals. When there is no free space in A&E, patients wait in the ambulance, sometimes for hours, and the crew cannot go to the next emergency.
• Hospitals are full. A&E cannot admit patients when wards are full, often because patients who are ready to leave cannot be discharged to care at home or in a care home.
• Rising demand. There are more 999 calls, partly because people cannot get a GP appointment or have waited long for other care.
• Staffing. There are too few ambulance crews, paramedics and call handlers to cover demand, especially in winter.