Ambulances across the South West are reaching heart attack and stroke patients significantly faster than in previous years, with new figures showing response times have improved by more than half this winter.
Average response times for category two emergencies — which include serious and time‑critical conditions — have fallen from 72 minutes in 2023 to 34 minutes in 2026, despite a 22% rise in demand for services.
NHS leaders say the improvement is the result of closer working between clinicians, better patient flow through Emergency Departments, and more effective discharge processes.
Ambulances are now being freed up more quickly to attend the next emergency, with average hospital handover times also dropping from 73 minutes in 2023 to 34 minutes this winter.
However, health officials acknowledge that further progress is needed to meet national targets and eliminate the use of hospital corridors and other non‑clinical spaces for patient care.
South West Medical Director Dr Trevor Smith said the region’s geography and older population create additional challenges. “Because the South West is so rural and coastal, and has such an older population, it provides additional challenges to getting to people in a timely way,” he said.
“But every minute counts in an emergency, and I’m incredibly grateful to the thousands of paramedics, nurses, doctors and other staff who’ve made this improvement.”
He added that the NHS is “starting to turn a corner” but remains determined to eliminate delays altogether.
South Western Ambulance Service Chief Executive Dr John Martin said demand remains high, but strengthened clinical support in Emergency Operations Centres is helping ensure patients receive the most appropriate care.
“Improvements to ambulance handovers have gone hand in hand with efforts from our crews to reduce clinically avoidable conveyances to Emergency Departments,” he said. “This helps keep our ambulances available for those in urgent and life‑threatening situations.”
Care coordination hubs are also helping clinicians arrange the right support quickly, whether that’s a home visit from community nurses, same‑day emergency care or mobile x‑ray services for patients who have fallen.
