The latest data from NHS England reveals that, while delays are significant, south London hospitals are performing slightly better than the national average in terms of ambulance handovers.
Across England, 42.2 per cent of ambulance patients last week waited more than 30 minutes to be handed over to A&E teams—the highest figure so far this winter.
The figures for the week ending January 5, 2025, showing delays at south London NHS trusts:
-
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Total handovers: 1,284
- Delays over 30 minutes: 520
- Percentage delayed: 40.5 per cent
-
Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust
- Total handovers: 1,225
- Delays over 30 minutes: 392
- Percentage delayed: 32.0 per cent
-
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Total handovers: 694
- Delays over 30 minutes: 254
- Percentage delayed: 36.6 per cent
-
Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Total handovers: 688
- Delays over 30 minutes: 177
- Percentage delayed: 25.7 per cent
-
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
- Total handovers: 754
- Delays over 30 minutes: 171
- Percentage delayed: 22.7 per cent
-
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
- Total handovers: 606
- Delays over 30 minutes: 134
- Percentage delayed: 22.1 per cent
In South London, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust reported the highest proportion of ambulance handover delays, with 40.5 per cent of its 1,284 handovers exceeding 30 minutes.
In contrast, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust had the lowest rate, with 22.1 per cent of its 606 handovers delayed beyond 30 minutes.
These figures show a notable range in performance across the region, though all South London trusts remain below the national average of 42.2 per cent.
Nationally, 21.3 per cent of ambulance handovers last week were delayed by more than an hour, up from 12.9 per cent the previous week.
The delays come as flu cases surge across the country. Last week, there were an average of 5,408 flu patients in hospital beds daily, compared to just 1,098 on December 1.
Of these, 256 required critical care, adding further strain to NHS resources.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, the National Medical Director for NHS England, said: “It is clear that hospitals are under exceptional pressure at the start of this new year, with mammoth demand stemming from this ongoing cold weather snap and respiratory viruses like flu – all on the back of 2024 being the busiest year on record for A&E and ambulance teams.
“I never fail to be impressed by the remarkable job that NHS staff across a range of services (are doing) in the face of current challenges, remaining compassionate, professional and doing everything they can to see patients as quickly as possible while often working in hospitals that are full to bursting.
“It is hard to quantify just through the data how tough it is for frontline staff at the moment – with some staff working in A&E saying that their days at work feel like some of the days we had during the height of the pandemic.”