Ambulances unloaded patients three minutes faster last week, even
as A&Es saw more ambulance handovers than any point last
winter.
Figures released today show there were 94,551 ambulance handovers
last week – higher than the busiest week last year (94,493 w/e 29
December 2024), and up almost 1,000 on the week previous and over
3,250 more than the same week last year.
Despite this, the average handover time last week (34:32) was
almost 3 minutes faster than the week previous (37:22) and an
improvement on the same point last year (35:04).
This comes almost eight months since the publication of the NHS'
urgent and emergency care plan, which set out a focus on keeping
more ambulances on the road and improving patient flow through
hospitals.
The ‘winter vomiting bug' continues to build demand in hospitals
with an average of over 1,100 adult beds closed or occupied each
day last week due to norovirus.
There were an average of 950 patients in hospital each day
last week with the bug – 127 more than the week previous and
nearing the peak of cases we saw in February last year (961 w/e 2
February 2025).
There were 360,286 calls answered by NHS 111 last week – almost
5,000 more than the same week last year (355,452 w/e 26 January
2025).
Flu rates have dropped since last month's peak, but there
was still an average of 1,987 patients in hospital with flu and
an average of 647 patients in hospital with covid-19 per day last
week.
This follows latest vaccination data which shows 18.8 million flu
vaccines have been delivered since the autumn/winter campaign
began – around half a million more than at the same point last
year, helping to keep more people out of hospital and protected
against getting seriously ill from the virus.
4.7 million covid-19 vaccinations have been delivered so far this
season and 2.5 million RSV vaccinations since the rollout kicked
off – including almost 485,000 to pregnant women, helping to
protect their babies against respiratory viruses from the moment
they are born.
NHS National Medical Director Professor Meghana
Pandit said:
“Hospitals continue to face sustained pressure from viruses and
other demands, but NHS staff have worked hard to tackle winter
head on and it looks like this is having an impact.
“The NHS prepared earlier for winter than ever before and it is
reassuring to see an improvement on ambulance handover times and
fewer patients in hospital with flu than in previous
years - in part thanks to staff delivering half a million more
vaccinations than at the same point last year.
“Seasonal viruses continue to cause disruption and take up
hospital beds, with cases of the winter vomiting bug triple what
they were at the start of the month.
“You can prevent the spread of norovirus by frequent handwashing
with soap and water and not returning to work, school or visiting
hospitals until you are 48 hours symptom-free."
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
“This winter has pushed the NHS hard, but staff are delivering.
Ambulances are handing over faster, delays are coming down and
flu is taking up fewer hospital beds than last year, even with
demand running at near-record levels. That's real progress,
driven by the dedication of frontline staff and better
preparation than ever before.
“We backed that effort with £450 million for urgent and emergency
care, 500 new ambulances on the road and millions of vaccinations
delivered this winter for flu, Covid and RSV, keeping people
protected and out of hospital.
“Winter pressures haven't gone away, but the NHS is meeting them
head on. If you're eligible, get vaccinated, follow public health
advice and help us keep the service there for everyone who needs
it.”
The weekly situation report publications can be found here:
Statistics » Urgent and
Emergency Care Daily Situation Reports 2025-26
