Ambulance handover times improve in January despite surge in demand

Provisional data released by the NHS shows ambulance handovers reached their highest January total since before the pandemic, as services faced sustained winter demand from seasonal viruses and rising call volumes.

A total of 420,324 ambulance handovers with known times were recorded in January, a 5.2% increase compared with 399,415 in January last year. Despite the higher demand, average handover times improved, falling to 37 minutes and 16 seconds—more than two minutes faster than January 2025.

Faster handovers amid high demand

The improvement in performance comes as hospitals and emergency services continue to manage pressure from winter illnesses and increased patient volumes. Indeed, the latest figures show average ambulance handovers were nearly five minutes quicker than the same week in 2025.

Health leaders attributed the gains to winter planning measures focused on keeping ambulances available and improving patient flow through hospitals.

Professor Meghana Pandit, National Medical Director at the NHS, said early planning had helped services respond to seasonal pressures.

“Patients are being handed over from ambulances quicker, even amid high demand on services – with more handovers last month than any January since before the pandemic.”

Professor Meghana Pandit.

Winter viruses still adding pressure

Hospitals continue to see high numbers of patients with winter illnesses. On average last week, 1,093 adult hospital beds were closed or occupied daily due to norovirus outbreaks, while 904 patients were in hospital with the virus.

Demand on urgent care lines also rose, with 381,479 calls to NHS 111 services last week—3,878 more than the same week last year.

Flu rates have declined since last month’s peak, but pressures remain. An average of 1,491 patients were hospitalised with flu each day last week, alongside 630 patients with COVID-19.

The figures suggest NHS winter preparations have helped maintain service performance even as demand rose. Health leaders say continued focus on patient flow, vaccination uptake, and infection control will be key to sustaining improvements as winter pressures persist.

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