The government’s latest attempt to speed up ambulance turnaround times in A&E has been branded an “immoral and unacceptable” gimmick that puts patients at risk, leading experts say.
Last week, NHS England issued a directive stating ambulance handovers must be completed within 15 minutes, with no delay beyond 45 minutes—regardless of hospital pressures.
But critics argue this will force paramedics to ‘drop and go’, leaving seriously ill patients stranded in corridors, without life-saving equipment, privacy, or dignity.
The move comes as NHS figures reveal hospitals are bursting, with record-high numbers of patients battling norovirus, flu, and winter infections. Last week (Thursday 6 feb) the government released figures showing 98,101 hospital beds were occupied daily – 96 percent – the highest number this winter.
It revealed 961 patients a day are hospitalised with norovirus—a 69 percent rise compared to last year. Over 13,000 patients were stuck in hospital despite being medically fit for discharge.
With hospitals already struggling to cope, forcing ambulances to offload patients quickly could lead to disaster, experts warn.
Professor Carl Heneghan, director of Oxford University’s Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, criticised the policy as unsafe and unethical.
“The treatment of patients in corridors should be a national disgrace. It is unsafe, immoral, and completely unacceptable,” he said.
Corridor care—once reserved for extreme emergencies like terror attacks—is now the norm, he added. “No other industry would tolerate such conditions.”
Professor Heneghan, an urgent care GP, also raised concerns about mismanagement within ambulance services, claiming too much of the workforce is stuck in back-office roles, rather than providing front-line care.
Dr. Mashkur Khan, a leading acute care specialist, slammed the 45-minute turnaround as a reckless policy that could cost lives.
He said: “This will mean more patients dumped in corridors, without privacy, dignity, or access to vital care like oxygen and cardiac arrest equipment. This is third-world healthcare.”
Dr. Khan warned rushed handovers could lead to dangerous mistakes, with staff being forced to cut corners under pressure.
Adding to the problems, he said, cramming more patients into hospitals could worsen the spread of viruses, he added.
He said: “They’re trying to fix one problem but making another one worse”
Not all medical professionals oppose the move. Some say the short-term measure is necessary to free up ambulances for 999 emergency callouts.
An NHS England spokesperson defended the policy, saying:
“This measure is designed to reduce avoidable ambulance dispatches, reduce conveyances, and cut handover delays.”
