Ambulance Handover Delays
Identifying Attributes
Care Settings
Hospital Care
Country
United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man
Publishing Organisation
Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation programme: QualityWatch
Type of Quality Indicator
Process
IOM Quality Dimension
Timeliness
Domain
Wait Times and System Planning / Access
Defining Attributes
Definition
The number and proportion of ambulance transfers delayed >30 minutes.
Numerator
This QI is calculated as both the number and proportion of ambulance transfers delayed >30 minutes.
Denominator
Number of ambulance transfers
Exclusions
Non-emergency patients are not counted. Patients being transported between locations/trusts/hospitals (e.g. for outpatient clinics or tertiary care) are not counted. Ambulance trusts do not count the time required for crews to complete record forms, clean vehicles, re-stock vehicles or have a break.
Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments
None
Stratifications
By ISO week date system.
Collection and Reporting Attributes
Type of Data Collection
Administrative data
Data Collection Methods
NHS England - Urgent and Emergency Care Daily Situation Reports
Frequency of Data Collection
Daily
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
1
Reporting Methods
Reporting Frequency
Monthly
Reporting Frequency in Days
30
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
Yes
Source and Reference Attributes
Evidence Source
Technical Specifications
Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
Yes
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
Yes
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
Yes
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
02 December 2025
Contents
Actions
Date Modified 02 December 2025